WhatsApp is by far the most popular instant messaging app in the world. And it took on even greater importance in the year 2020 as it became the default communication platform for work, for meeting friends and for families to stay in touch. So it’s no wonder that WhatsApp data also suggests a significant spike in usage. In March, when the Coronavirus The pandemic really took hold with lockouts and working from home, users were spending an average of more than 15 billion minutes talking on WhatsApp calls every day, well above pre-pandemic usage trends. According to research firm Statista, in October 2020, WhatsApp had 2 billion active users worldwide, Facebook Messenger in second place with 1.3 billion active users and WeChat in third with 1.2 billion. India is the biggest market for WhatsApp.
Let’s just say that WhatsApp has been very active this year in terms of rolling out new features, functionality and updates for WhatsApp for Android, WhatsApp for iPhone, and WhatsApp Web. Out of all the new features that have arrived on the most popular instant messaging app this year, we choose the five most useful features that have stood out for a variety of reasons: usefulness, appeal, and uniqueness.
WhatsApp payments: The last big addition of the year has to be the activation of WhatsApp Payments. As we head towards the end of 2020, WhatsApp announced that the WhatsApp Payments feature is now available for up to 20 million users in India. Facebook-owned WhatsApp platform confirmed that WhatsApp payments are now live with State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, and will enable National’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system. Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for users to make payments, money transfers and more. The announcement was made as part of the ongoing Facebook Fuel for India summit. It was in November that WhatsApp Payments received permission to enable payments for users in India in the WhatsApp app.
Read more: WhatsApp Payments is now online with SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank for UPI payments
Dark mode: After months and months of speculation and an impatient wait, WhatsApp users finally have access to the app’s dark mode. WhatsApp’s dark mode rollout took place earlier this year, for Android as well as the iPhone. A recent WhatsApp update also added new chat wallpapers for WhatsApp dark mode. Eventually, dark mode was rolled out for WhatsApp on the desktop as well, to make it a level playing field for all users. Everything looks better in dark mode, doesn’t it?
Read more: WhatsApp’s dark mode is finally here for everyone: here’s how to get it
Missing messages: WhatsApp’s new missing messages feature is now available to all users and you will be able to send messages to your friends and family, which will automatically disappear after a period of 7 days. But why 7 days? “We’re starting with 7 days because we believe it provides the peace of mind that conversations aren’t always-on, while still being convenient so you won’t forget what you were talking about. The shopping list or store address you received a few days ago will be there while you need it and then be gone when you don’t have it, ”that’s how WhatsApp describes it.
Read more: WhatsApp gets messages that go missing: not all chats have to last forever and here’s how to use it
WhatsApp group video and voice calls: In an era when millions of people around the world were working from home and relying heavily on instant messengers and video calling apps to work and stay in touch with friends and family, WhatsApp has updated the feature. group call to include 8 participants, instead of 4. was the limit earlier. WhatsApp said that in March when the Coronavirus The pandemic has really started, with users spending an average of over 15 billion minutes talking on WhatsApp calls each day, well above pre-pandemic usage trends.
Read more: WhatsApp voice and video calls can now have 8 participants: here’s how to use it
Disable groups forever: WhatsApp now lets you mute annoying, irritating and hyperactive WhatsApp groups forever. The “Always” option in the Mute settings for each group now replaces the 1 year option, the other options being 8 hours and 1 week. The option is available on WhatsApp for Android and WhatsApp for iPhone, and is priceless.
Read more: WhatsApp will let you mute a boring contact or group forever, and we say a big thank you
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