WhatsApp's New Features: Email Verification and Polls in Channels

 WhatsApp is conducting trials for a novel feature that permits users to include their email addresses within the iOS and Android versions of the app. This development is part of the messaging platform's ongoing efforts to introduce an alternative means of account login. Simultaneously, WhatsApp is also working on incorporating the capability to share polls in channels. A feature tracker has disclosed specifics about how the voting process in WhatsApp channels will function, in advance of its introduction in the beta testing channel.

Presently, WhatsApp users can log in to their accounts by inputting their phone numbers and receiving a one-time password (OTP). In the WhatsApp beta versions for iOS 2.23.23.77 and Android 2.23.24.10, as reported by feature tracker WABetaInfo, the messaging service under Meta's umbrella enables users to input their email addresses for verification, providing an alternative login method. Users are reassured that their email addresses will remain confidential and concealed from other users.

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According to the feature tracker, the option to log in using an email address will serve as an alternative to receiving a login OTP via SMS. This can be particularly useful for users when they are traveling and do not have access to an international roaming mobile plan. Nevertheless, users will still be required to furnish a phone number to initiate their use of the service.

Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

To append your email to your WhatsApp account, you can access WhatsApp's settings menu and navigate to Account > Email Address. After entering your email, verification is necessary to confirm ownership of the address. It's important to note that Gadgets 360 was unable to verify the presence of the email address field in the most recent WhatsApp beta version available from the Google Play Store.

Furthermore, WABetaInfo has detected an upcoming feature that is anticipated to be integrated into future beta versions of the app, currently in the development stage. WhatsApp is actively working on the ability to share polls in channels, but the mechanism will differ somewhat, as per the feature tracker. User votes in these polls will remain hidden to safeguard privacy.

At present, WhatsApp only permits users to post photos to their channels or share existing images from their mobile devices. The introduction of the poll feature to WhatsApp is expected to occur in a forthcoming beta version of the app, with subsequent deployment to the stable channel after successful testing.