WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.9.6: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.9.6.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to message contacts from status updates, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.7.8 update, we announced that a feature to save photos and videos from your own status updates was available. This feature allows users to conveniently store their media directly to their phone gallery without relying on external workarounds. By accessing the save option from the overflow menu while viewing a status update or from the list of shared updates within the past 24 hours, users can restore the content shared via status updates in case it was accidentally deleted from their device. It seems that WhatsApp is now experiment with new tools to further enhance user convenience, providing more seamless ways to interact with contacts through status updates. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.9.6 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to message contacts from status updates!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new feature that introduces a shortcut to quickly open the chat of a contact who has viewed their status update. This shortcut is accessible directly from the viewer's list, offering a convenient and intuitive way to start a conversation with someone who has shown interest in your status update. By simply tapping on the shortcut, users can instantly navigate to the chat window without any additional steps, making interactions faster and more seamless.

Previously, users had to leave the status update screen, search for the contact's name in the chat list, and manually open the chat. This process could be time-consuming, especially if the contact's chat wasn't immediately visible in the chat tab. For users with many active conversations, finding a specific chat could take a while, adding unnecessary steps to what should be a simple task. With this new shortcut, WhatsApp streamlines the experience, reducing the time it takes to engage with contacts who have viewed your status. Through the new shortcut, users can instantly open the conversation with the contact and send a message without manually navigating away from the status section. This enhancement encourages quicker and more spontaneous interactions, making it easier to follow up with friends, family, or colleagues. Whether users want to respond to specific views to their status update or simply start a conversation, the shortcut makes the process more efficient.

A feature to message contacts from status updates is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.

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