Technology Desk: A new feature may soon come for WhatsApp users, with the help of which messages can be scheduled in advance. This means that now if you want to wish someone a happy birthday, send important information or send a message at a specific time, then the date and time can be fixed by writing it in advance. The message will be sent automatically at the scheduled time. Currently this feature is being tested for some Android beta users.
What is Schedule Message feature of WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's Schedule Message feature will allow users to schedule a message in advance in an individual chat or group. According to the report of WABetaInfo, this feature is being made available to some users in Android beta version 2.26.40.7.
After the arrival of this feature, users will not need to open WhatsApp by holding the phone at the scheduled time to send the message. Once a message is scheduled, it will be sent automatically at the scheduled time.
How will you be able to schedule messages on WhatsApp?
Using this feature could be easy. If this feature is available in your WhatsApp account, then you have to follow these steps:
First of all, open WhatsApp and go to the chat of the concerned person or group.
After this type the message which is to be sent later.
Press and hold the send button.
If the feature is available in your account, an option to select a date and time may appear.
Schedule the message by choosing the date and time as per your need.
After this the message can be sent automatically at the scheduled time. However, the interface and way of using the feature may change during testing.
You can schedule photos and videos along with text
According to the report, this feature of WhatsApp will not be limited to text messages only. Through this, users will also be able to schedule links, photos and videos. You can also get the option to make changes in the photo and add caption before sending it.
However, the report mentions the facility to schedule only one photo or video at a time. How all these features will work in the final version of the feature will become clear only after the official rollout.
Will be able to schedule from 10 minutes to two weeks
According to the report, users will be able to schedule messages for a minimum of 10 minutes to a maximum of two weeks. This can make it easy to create messages for birthdays, anniversaries, important reminders and pre-scheduled events.
For example, if you have to wish a friend a happy birthday at 12 o'clock in the night, you can prepare the message in advance and decide its time.
Can messages be sent even if the phone is offline?
A special thing about this feature is that to send the message at the scheduled time, the user will not need to open WhatsApp at that time. According to the report, scheduled messages can be sent even if the phone is offline or the app is closed.
However, full details of how this feature will work technically and under what conditions it will be available will become clear only after the wider rollout of the feature.
There will also be an option to delete scheduled messages
If you change your mind after scheduling a message, you may also have the option to delete it before it's sent. According to the report, users will be able to see scheduled messages in the chat information section and delete them if needed.
If the message is deleted before the stipulated time, it will not be sent to the recipient. It has also been said in the report that the recipient is not expected to receive a separate notification when the message is deleted.
The feature will also work in group chat
The Schedule Message feature can be useful in group chats as well as individual chats. However, according to the report, the scheduled message will affect the members present in the group at that time. Members who join the group later are not expected to receive pre-scheduled messages.
When will all users get the feature?
Currently, WhatsApp is testing this feature with some Android beta users. It is being made available to selected users using the beta version through Google Play Store.
The company has not yet announced the official date of releasing the feature for all users. Therefore, normal WhatsApp users may have to wait for this. The report also mentions the possibility of getting end-to-end encryption support, but this can be confirmed only after official information comes.