WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger ‘about to MERGE’ so you can chat across both
FACEBOOK is testing a new feature that would effectively merge WhatsApp with Facebook Messenger, according to reports.
The groundbreaking move would allow WhatsApp users to send messages to friends on Facebook Messenger – and vice versa.
This would mean that, if you had a Facebook account, you could reach your friends on WhatsApp without downloading the app.
The impending update was discovered hidden in the code of Messenger by reliable tech aficionado WABetaInfo.
The prolific leaker, who hunts down upcoming app features by scanning their innards, said it was unclear when the merger would occur.
"The integration of WhatsApp into Facebook Messenger isn’t available yet," the tech guru said.
"This is a very complicated feature and it requires time. We’ve no idea if the plan to merge those services will continue or if it will be abandoned."
Facebook, which owns WhatsApp and Instagram, announced plans to combine its social media apps into a single messaging service last year.
However, the California tech titan has hardly mentioned the scheme since.
Messenger Rooms, an app unveiled in April, lets you host video calls with up to 50 people using Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram.
The new report suggests Facebook is now ready to take the next step.
Messenger's code suggests Facebook has built a database within the app that can store information from WhatsApp.
WhatsApp – a quick history
Here's what you need to know...
- WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum - former employees of Yahoo
- It's one of the most popular messaging services in the world
- Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like "what's up"
- After a number of tweaks the app was released with a messaging component in June 2009, with 250,000 active users
- It was originally free but switched to a paid service to avoid growing too fast. Then in 2016, it became free again for all users
- Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc in February 2014 for $19.3billion (£14.64bn)
- The app is particularly popular because all messages are encrypted during transit, shutting out snoopers
- As of 2020, WhatsApp has over 2billion users globally
That database heavily hints the app is being prepared to one day accept messages from WhatsApp users, WABetaInfo claims.
"Facebook can understand if a WhatsApp contact is blocked, sounds of push notifications and the details of a chat," WABetaInfo said.
"That includes particular information like the phone number of the contact, a message counter, and if the chat is archived.
"[It cannot understand a message's] content, members of a specific group and profile pictures of the contact.”
Facebook's plan to merge its apps was revealed last year by the New York Times and later confirmed by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg.
Slippery Zuck said in an earnings call in January 2019: "I can talk about messaging and the integration that we're thinking about.
"This is going to be a long-term project that I think will probably be to whatever extent we end up doing it in – a 2020 thing or beyond."
The project is believed to involve "thousands of Facebook employees" working to merge the apps together.
Facebook Messenger, along with Facebook-owned WhatsApp and Instagram, will still exist as standalone apps.
But messaging functionality would be shared across them, so users on Instagram could text people on WhatsApp.
You could even message someone on Instagram without ever actually having an Instagram account.
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Facebook has redesigned its main app with a special 'News' feed that shows zero posts from pals or family.
And read about some of the genius Facebook Messenger tricks you can try today.
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