WhatsApp has announced the rollout of multi-device login support, allowing users to log into the same account on up to four phones simultaneously. Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement on Facebook and Instagram, revealing that the feature will be available to all users in the coming weeks.
Until now, users were only able to use one WhatsApp account on one phone and multiple companion desktop devices. However, with the new rollout, users’ messages will be synced across devices, including other phones. This means that even if one device is switched off, users can still access the app on other devices.
WhatsApp is one of the world’s largest messaging services, with over 2 billion users. The platform previously lacked multi-phone support due to the full end-to-end encryption support for chats and calls. However, the company started testing multi-device compatibility in 2021 with select beta users.
WhatsApp has developed new technology to sync messages across devices while maintaining end-to-end encryption protection. This new feature will facilitate small business owners, allowing them to reply to customers through the same WhatsApp business account.
In addition, WhatsApp is also rolling out a new way to link devices using a one-time code. This code can be obtained by entering the user’s mobile number on WhatsApp Web, which can then be used to link devices instead of scanning a QR code on the mobile phone.
While other competitors like Telegram and Messenger offer multi-device sync for messages, they do not have support for end-to-end encryption. With the new multi-device login support, WhatsApp has bridged the gap by providing both features to its users.
The new feature by WhatsApp comes at a time when it is trying to increase its efforts to protect the privacy of its users. In a recent update, WhatsApp allowed its users to post their WhatsApp Status to their Facebook Story automatically by enabling the feature. It also added a privacy audience selector for Status updates, allowing users to specify who can view their updates.
Overall, the new multi-device login support by WhatsApp is a much-awaited and welcome feature for its users. With its global rollout, WhatsApp has yet again proved that it is committed to providing its users with a seamless and secure messaging experience across multiple devices.
