New Delhi: Amid the new IT rues coming into enforcing, WhatsApp is coming out with a new feature called Flash Calls, to verify user log-in on the platform via an automated verification call apart from its six-digit verification code.
What are the benefits of the new feature?
Users will be able to log in to their WhatsApp account quickly and safely, as per news agency ANI. The Facebook-owned message platform is developing a new feature in its WhatsApp beta for the Android 2.21.11.7 update.
The new feature, currently under development, will be available in a future update, the agency said citing other reports. It is to be noted that the 'flash calls' feature will not be available on WhatsApp for iOS as Apple does not offer any public API to read the call history. The calling feature will work as an alternate method instead of the regular six-digit code that is sent to users on their phones for verification.
After the update is available, WhatsApp will call the user on the phone number and later automatically end the call after verification.
As per the report, the last phone number identified in the phone's log will be counted as the number that gives the six-digit code, helping WhatsApp verify the user's identity. Also, since this phone number is always unique, it will be difficult for hackers to trick users.
However, it will still require the user's permission to manage calls and access to his/her phone's call log to enable the feature. The 'flash call' feature will remain optional and users can still log in to the messaging app through the six-digit code received via SMS or call.
WhatsApp will not use user call history for any other purposes and will only check the last entry, i.e. WhatsApp's automatic call, from the user's call history, the report said.