Chatting App Introduces New 'No-Account Needed' Feature
Many people are excited about a new feature being introduced on a popular messaging app, making it easier than ever to chat with friends and family, even if they don't have an account. This feature has been in the works for a while and is now being made available to a select group of beta testers.
What's the New Feature?
The new feature, called 'guest chats', is designed for messaging without the need for an account. This feature was initially tested on Android devices and is now being rolled out for beta testing on iOS devices and web platforms. The guest chat feature allows users to start a conversation with those who haven't signed up for the app yet.
How Does it Work?
With the guest chat feature, users can create a chat invite link from the "Invite a friend" option and share this link through text messages or other apps. When someone clicks on this link, it opens up a safe chat session via the web version of the messaging app.
Once the invited person chooses to proceed as a guest, the messaging app generates a unique identifier that's used to create an encryption key. This ensures that the guest chats are protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that the messaging app can't view the content of the messages, and only the people participating in the conversation can read them.
After a user sends a guest chat link, the chat can only be started by the guest. The guest needs to open the link, agree to the app's terms, enter their name, and start the chat. It's important to note that anyone who receives the invite link can join the chat.
What Happens Once the Chat Starts?
Once the chat begins, the messaging app adds a "(Guest)" label next to the person's name and a disclaimer saying "Not registered with the app". Of course, guests are given the option to create an account. This is likely the primary reason for this feature, especially since the app is less commonly used in places like the United States, despite its popularity elsewhere.
Are there any Limitations?
Currently, the guest chat feature doesn't support group chats, voice messages, attachments, stickers, GIFs, or voice and video calls. In addition, guest chats are set to expire after 10 days of inactivity. As for now, the feature is only available to a limited number of beta testers on iOS, Android, and on the web. There isn't a specified timeline for when it will be rolled out to more users.