WhatsApp is purportedly experimenting with a novel feature that will enable users to share music while engaged in a video call, allowing them to connect over a shared musical experience, reminiscent of in-person interactions. This feature bears a resemblance to Apple’s SharePlay, which users can employ during FaceTime conversations.
The details about this feature have been reported by WABetaInfo, a source renowned for disseminating information about upcoming WhatsApp features.
As per the report, a preliminary version of this feature is visible in the WhatsApp Android beta version 2.23.26.18. However, it is currently not accessible to beta testers, as it is still in the active developmental phase.
The report specifies that users will have the capability to share music audio exclusively during video calls when the screen-sharing option is active.
The potential applications of this feature are diverse. Users may utilize it to jointly listen to a music track, akin to the functionality in Apple FaceTime. Creatives could use it for reviewing an audio project, among various other possibilities. The report indicates that this feature should be applicable to all participants in a group call and theoretically, should function for group calls as well.
Initially, the feature was under development for the iOS iteration of WhatsApp, but it is now also undergoing testing on Android. Nevertheless, the exact release date of this WhatsApp feature by Meta remains uncertain. Nonetheless, it appears to be approaching a beta release in the not-too-distant future.
In other WhatsApp developments, the platform is introducing the capability to share status updates using companion devices for beta testers. Consequently, users can now post GIFs, images, and videos—all as status updates—directly from their secondary companion device. This ensures a consistent WhatsApp experience across all devices, whether it’s the primary device or a companion device.
