Rolling out WhatsApp functionality to share voice messages as status updates with Android beta testers: report

WhatsApp has reportedly started rolling out a new feature for some Android beta testers that lets them exchange voice notes as status updates. The feature lets you share voice status updates “with a certain audience configured in your privacy settings,” according to a feature tracker. The new feature is available in the text status section for select users on the beta channel. These voice status updates like video, photo and text updates will also disappear after 24 hours.

According to a report from feature tracker WABetaInfo, some beta testers who updated to version 2.23.2.8 can now post voice notes as WhatsApp Status updates. The WhatsApp feature and update tracker website states that the feature is visible in the text status section and adds that the maximum recording time for a voice status update is 30 seconds . Users can also delete a recording before re-recording and sharing it.

As with other status updates, voice notes are also protected with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Users can also choose who can see their status in their privacy settings. Similarly, like video, photo and text status updates, voice statuses will also disappear after 24 hours. The WABetaInfo report added that the feature will likely be available to more users in the coming weeks.

WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a feature to better handle spam messages. The Meta-owned messaging service has been discovered testing a feature that allows users to block people who aren’t in their contact list, right from the notification bar. With this feature, users will eventually be able to block unknown and unreliable contacts without having to open the chat.

WhatsApp message notifications currently have two options: reply and mark as read. The upcoming feature will give users a third option: Block, which will only be available for messages received from unknown senders, according to the feature tracker.

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