It appears WhatsApp is working on adding end-to-end encryption to its messenger app and Facebook integration is already in the works. As seen in a leaked screenshot posted by Android developer Javier Santos on Google plus, we may see these new features any time soon.
We expected something like this when Facebook acquired WhatsApp in a multi-million dollar deal in 2014. Since the acquisition, this platform has undergone some radical changes. Voice call wasn’t possible on the messaging platform till after the acquisition and right now, the yearly fee will be totally removed.
Late last year too, we spotted a leaked screenshot that suggested WhatsApp might introduce video calls but we’re yet to see this.
At the moment, we have no idea what the Facebook integration is going to look like. It might be nothing more than profile picture synchronization and perhaps, contacts on Facebook messenger will be merged with WhatsApp contacts. The developer says the leaked build is v2.12.413 but the one presently available at the Play Store is v2.12.367.
While everyone is not particularly excited about the Facebook integration, the end-to-end encryption being introduced to WhatsApp sounds pretty good. People who use Telegram largely because of encryption and protection of users data may be enticed with this upcoming WhatsApp feature.
In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for about $19 million dollars in one of the biggest deals in the history of technology. For a platform that has never been monetized through ads, the yearly $1 fee per user has only been the only source of income. With the recent removal of the annual fee, WhatsApp has announced that it will soon start testing tools and features to connect users with organizations and businesses.