WhatsApp Roll Out Companion Mode for Android Users - Full Details
WhatsApp is testing a new feature called Companion Mode for Android. Although the beta version is limited to select users, it is likely to be rolled out to a wider audience in the coming weeks. The feature will sync your chats between multiple phones and tablets. However, some features will be unavailable in companion mode, including the Do Not Disturb feature.
Companion Mode will allow you to link an existing WhatsApp account to a secondary mobile device. The companion mode will work only on the secondary mobile phone. If you have an existing WhatsApp account on a secondary device, you will be logged out and all locally stored data will be deleted.
WhatsApp is currently testing the companion mode feature on Android tablets. The beta version will allow you to link the Android tablet you're using with your primary WhatsApp account. The feature can be enabled by scanning a QR code on the Android tablet. Once you've linked the two devices, you'll be able to share media files up to 2GB.
WhatsApp is also testing the Do Not Disturb API for missed calls, which means that if your primary phone is offline and you're using the companion device, WhatsApp won't display missed calls in the notification pane. This new feature will allow users to use the same account on multiple devices, without worrying about security.
WhatsApp has confirmed that it's testing the companion mode feature on Android, and it will soon be available to the public. As WABetaInfo points out, the feature allows multiple users to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple Android handsets. In addition to this, the chat history will sync between the devices. However, you won't be able to access some features while using the companion mode.
In addition to adding the companion mode feature, WhatsApp has recently increased the group chat participation limit, making it possible for groups to have up to 256 members, making the app even more versatile for mobile users. The new limit for group chats was meant to attract more businesses to use the app.
The companion mode will let users connect up to four devices to their accounts. The primary device will sync the chat history across all the linked devices. Personal messages and calls will be encrypted end-to-end. The message recipient will receive the message on all of the linked devices. Additionally, the companion mode will allow users to use the same number across multiple devices, while avoiding the need for a separate WhatsApp account on each one.