WhatsApp is testing multi-device sync that doesn’t require a phone

Although WhatsApp users can use the messaging service across several platforms, they still need to be connected to a smartphone, largely because of the way WhatsApp handles end-to-end encryption (E2EE). That’s about to change, and eventually you’ll no longer need to have a phone nearby to use WhatsApp on the web, macOS, Windows or Portal.

Starting today, WhatsApp will invite users to try its multi-device beta. You’ll be able to use the service on your phone and up to four other devices (as long as they also aren’t phones). WhatsApp will try the multi-device approach with a small group of people from its beta program. They’ll be able to opt out of the beta later. With the help of those users, WhatsApp will optimize the multi-device experience and add some more features before rolling it out more broadly.

Although many users have been requesting multi-device support, it’s taken WhatsApp some time to make that happen. It has built a system that retains end-to-end encryption while letting people sync data like contact names, archives and starred messages across devices.

Until now, the WhatsApp smartphone app has been an essential conduit for the service. Other platforms like the web and desktop apps maintain …read more