WhatsApp will finally be on iPads soon.
The company behind the secure messaging app is reportedly working on adding native iPad support to its app, allowing users to access it without using its web version on iPads.
WhatsApp's native iPad support is only available to WhatsApp beta testers as of press time.
14 Years In The Making
WhatsApp has been around since 2009, providing people with a means to contact others through the internet instantly. Although Meta (then known as Facebook Inc.) eventually acquired the company in 2014, its app still provides the same service to its users despite its new owner releasing Facebook Messenger in August 2011.
However, Meta may have focused too much on its Instagram and Facebook offerings back then, with both apps getting native iPad support. This support allows their respective users to install and use their apps directly from their iPads.
Unfortunately, WhatsApp has yet to come with native iPad support, forcing its users to rely on its web version to contact others there. Thankfully, WhatsApp could soon change that in a future update.
A report from code researcher WABetaInfo revealed that WhatsApp has started testing a beta version of its iPad app. This beta test means that WhatsApp users could soon contact others directly from an iPad without using its web version.
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The existence of such a beta test means that WhatsApp users can soon send or receive messages on their iPads as if they are using the device where they first set up their WhatsApp account. As such, they wouldn't miss out on any important messages on WhatsApp thanks to the app's upcoming native iPad support.
Calls and messages are still end-to-end encrypted even with the native iPad support added, preventing anyone, not even WhatsApp, from reading users' personal messages and listening to their private calls. However, WABetaInfo didn't mention if the encrypted calls are audio, video, or both.
As its name suggests, though, WhatsApp's iPad version is only accessible to the app's beta testers. As such, some of WhatsApp's features might not appear or work properly in the beta test. These features include the ability to view and post status updates.
Since WhatsApp's native iPad support is still being beta tested, only time will tell when WhatsApp will release the update containing the app's native iPad support.
Other WhatsApp Features In-Development
WhatsApp's native iPad support is the latest in the company's list of features it is developing. You may recall that it was spotted to be developing a "Third-party Chats" feature, which allows it to work with other messaging apps to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
The company is also working on a feature that allows WhatsApp users to toggle the ability to send instant video messages. Additionally, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a feature that protects users' IP addresses when making or taking a call with the app by relaying them through its server.
Lastly, WhatsApp is also developing a passkey login/sign-in method to WhatsApp, giving users a more secure method to log into their accounts.
Related Article: WhatsApp Tests New Feature To Possibly Comply With EU's DMA
