WhatsApp ‘live-location’ sharing on group chat spotted on beta app: Report

According to @WABetaInfo, the new feature was spotted on the beta builds of iOS (v 2.17.3.28) and Android (v 2.16.399); and is disabled by default. Screenshots shared by WABetaInfo show a ‘Sharing’ option along with a ‘Show My Friends’ option. Another screenshot shows the duration up to which location can be shared; from 1 minute to indefinitely.

WABetaInfo in other tweets noted that the iOS beta app 2.17.3.28 will also let users save photos in a new album in the camera roll. The beta app will also be bringing a new ‘Contact Us’ menu, and new UI for the ‘Storage Usage’ section. WhatsApp beta for Android 2.17.36 is testing functionality bringing forward button for voice messages.

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You can currently share your location on personal WhatsApp chats and on ‘Groups’, but that only gives your location at the time you send that message – with no real time position-tracking. Facebook (the company which acquired WhatsApp) had been letting users see their close-by friends with its ‘Nearby Friends’ function, which it recently killed off.

2.17.3.28 iOS | 2.16.399+ Android: Live Location feature, that tracks the live location of other group participants (DISABLED BY DEFAULT). pic.twitter.com/pYEXT1nxyR

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) January 26, 2017

WhatsApp has recently added new features like video calling, GIF support and easy call forwarding with its latest updates. A recent iOS update of the app brought the ability to queue messages when an Internet connection is absent, and also brought a new storage usage screen along with the ability to share 30 photos or video in a go.