Share files It is something we do daily through WhatsApp. Who hasn't sent a meme or a photo, or the latest viral YouTube video? But the way we share that content could be about to change.
Everything indicates that WhatsApp is working on a new functionality with which we will be able to exchange files with people who are close to us, without having to open a chat with them.
Quick Share, the antecedent of the new WhatsApp functionality
Many Android users are unaware that their phone has functionality that allows them to share files with other devices with this operating system in a very easy and simple way: is QuickShare.
This feature uses wireless connectivity technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct to transfer data quickly and without the need for an Internet connection. Which is very useful for sharing large files such as high-resolution photos or videos.
To start this tool and use it we must do the following:
- Activation. Access the settings section of your mobile phone, search for and activate the Quick Share functionality.
- Select from content. Choose the content you want to share with another Android device.
- Start Quick Share. Once the file is selected, look for the share option in the options menu and choose the Quick Share option.
- Search for the device. Your phone will start searching for nearby devices that have Quick Share activated.
- Select and send. Choose the device you want to share the file with and send it.
- Reception and confirmation. The receiving mobile receives a notification or a request to accept the content sent.
Quick Share is very useful for sharing files, but it has never been very popular. If your mobile phone is an iPhone, there is a similar functionality in iOS, it is AirDrop, but it has not been very successful either. However, the new functionality that WhatsApp works on is directly inspired by this system.
Share files between Android phones and iPhone
WhatsApp is not going to be satisfied with adapting Quick Share, it is going to go one step further. The Android tool only allows us to share files with other phones with the same operating system, but in the instant messaging app this will not be the case. Because sharing can occur between all types of devices, regardless if they use Android or iOS as the operating system.
When the new functionality is ready, we can activate it as we wish. So, the phone will show us a small animation of a radar, which tells us that it is looking for devices around us.
Of course, in order to use this tool you need to have Bluetooth turned on. If that is not the case, WhatsApp will remind you that you need to activate it to search for other users. Additionally, you can configure your user screen so that others can easily identify you.
Once the device with which you want to share files is located and the data transfer is accepted by it, the photo, video, document, etc. is then sent. Without having to access a chat.
A new WhatsApp success?
WhatsApp is the most used instant messaging app worldwide. Although competitors such as Telegram have appeared in its market over time, for the moment no one has managed to take away its position.
This is because it has never stopped innovating. Since it was born just over a decade ago,
Here are some of the most notable developments in recent years:
Voice calls
Initially, WhatsApp only allowed sending text messages. But since 2015 it has a voice calling function which allows us to call our friends and family for free if we are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Video call
A year later, in 2016, another novelty arrived, this time in the form of video calls. Something that ended up being very useful during the pandemic.
WhatsApp statuses
In 2017, new and popular ones appeared “WhatsApp Statuses”, that allow content to be shared ephemerally for 24 hours. A functionality very similar to that of stories on other social platforms.
WhatsApp Business
In 2018, a version of the app was launched specifically for small businesses, with additional tools for communication and promotion.
Dark mode
In 2020, dark mode arrived, which reduces eye fatigue and improves the user experience in low light conditions.
Advanced message search
Over time, WhatsApp has improved its search function for specific messages within individual and group chats. So now It is much easier to recover the information what interests us
Improved two-step verification
Without a doubt, one of the most notable advances of the instant messaging app is two-step verification, which allows you to improve account security by adding an additional password and a six-digit PIN.
In addition to all these changes, WhatsApp has recently slightly renewed its interface, with color changes to improve visibility, new emojis, and adjustments to the way statuses are displayed. It also allows us to create communities to share information on a certain topic and be part of thematic channels.
The next news may be the arrival of this file sharing system that we told you about today. There is no exact date for its release yet, but we are sure that has a good chance of succeeding where Quick Share and AirDrop they have not achieved it.
This functionality will be very useful for some users and not so much for others. In any case, once it is ready, we encourage you to try it, so that you do not fall behind in your knowledge of technology. And it is that Surely sooner or later you will end up needing it to share files.