WhatsApp is testing a new guest chats feature that allows users to start a chat with people who do not have a WhatsApp account. As uncovered by WABetaInfo, the feature is present in the WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.25.22.13), and it is expected to be implemented in the regular WhatsApp Android and iOS apps in the near future.
The guest chat feature allows WhatsApp users to send a chat link via text message, email or social media to people in their contacts who do not have the app or an active WhatsApp account. Once the link is opened, the non-WhatsApp user will be transferred to a platform similar to WhatsApp Web, where they can chat with WhatsApp users with end-to-end encryption.
Guest chats come with several limitations as users won’t be able to send media files, GIFs, voice messages or start video calls. They work on WhatsApp’s own ecosystem. The new feature is likely implemented as part of the European Union’s platform interoperability measures, which require different online services to communicate with each other.