AirDrop is an extremely useful feature because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to transfer files to one another in an instant. However, it bears mentioning that it is an Apple only feature, which can limit its availability to those that don’t use products manufactured by the tech juggernaut with all things having been considered and taken into account.
This might be why WhatsApp is trying to make its own AirDrop like feature. The instant messaging app currently has a file sharing feature that it is beta testing out, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that a lot of its characteristics have been spotted. For starters, users might need to shake their devices in order to bring up the file sharing window, which will bring up a screen that shows people nearby.
Anyone that wants to receive files from them would need to perform the same motion, after which they can tap on the accept button to approve the share request. One thing that remains unclear is how wide the range is, but considering that AirDrop has a range of about 30 feet, it’s highly likely that WhatsApp would want to match this or perhaps even surpass it.
Any files that are shared through this erstwhile unnamed feature will be encrypted with the same protections that extend to WhatsApp messages. This also means that your phone number will be hidden if you are air dropping something to someone that’s not already in your contact list. It remains to be seen what the limit would be for transferring files, but since WhatsApp allows up to 100 images to be shared in a single messaging, chances are that the file transfer feature will have the same limit.
If this feature comes sooner rather than later, AirDrop will no longer be quite as unique. As a result, Apple will lose some of the exclusivity that so many people associate with its features and which help prop up its smartphone business.
Read next: The Age of Artificial Intelligence: What Modern Tech Means for Journalism
This might be why WhatsApp is trying to make its own AirDrop like feature. The instant messaging app currently has a file sharing feature that it is beta testing out, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that a lot of its characteristics have been spotted. For starters, users might need to shake their devices in order to bring up the file sharing window, which will bring up a screen that shows people nearby.
Anyone that wants to receive files from them would need to perform the same motion, after which they can tap on the accept button to approve the share request. One thing that remains unclear is how wide the range is, but considering that AirDrop has a range of about 30 feet, it’s highly likely that WhatsApp would want to match this or perhaps even surpass it.
Any files that are shared through this erstwhile unnamed feature will be encrypted with the same protections that extend to WhatsApp messages. This also means that your phone number will be hidden if you are air dropping something to someone that’s not already in your contact list. It remains to be seen what the limit would be for transferring files, but since WhatsApp allows up to 100 images to be shared in a single messaging, chances are that the file transfer feature will have the same limit.
If this feature comes sooner rather than later, AirDrop will no longer be quite as unique. As a result, Apple will lose some of the exclusivity that so many people associate with its features and which help prop up its smartphone business.
Read next: The Age of Artificial Intelligence: What Modern Tech Means for Journalism
