CALIFORNIA (Kashmir English): WhatsApp is trying out a guest chats feature that will permit sending messages to individuals who do not have an account on WhatsApp.
The feature was spotted by WABetaInfo in the Android beta version 2.25.22.13 and is set to be released on Android and iOS apps in a future release.
How Guest Chats Work
The feature allows WhatsApp users to generate a secure chat link that can be sent via text message, email, or social media. When a recipient opens the link, they are sent to a web-based interface like WhatsApp Web, from which they can chat with a WhatsApp user without an account.
From there, the non‑WhatsApp user can send and receive text messages end‑to‑end encrypted, so that only the users can view the conversation.
Feature Limitations
There are some limitations to features as well. Guest chats have limited messaging so that these chats cannot:
Send or receive media files, stickers, GIFs, or documents. Use voice notes, video messages, or calls, and join group chats
These restraints render the feature suitable for basic one-on-one conversations rather than a comprehensive WhatsApp experience.
End-to-end encryption for guest chats is preserved on WhatsApp, with messages keeping their privacy despite having one party not using an official account.
The new guest chats could be related to the European Union’s interoperability requirements, which compel leading messaging platforms to provide cross‑platform communication features.
The feature is still in beta testing and has not yet gone live to the general public. WhatsApp has not released an official date of launch, but wider availability is imminent.
