Facebook backs off from plans to fill WhatsApp with ads

Facebook is reportedly "backing away" from plans to sell ad placements inside WhatsApp. According to The Wall Street Journal, the team in charge of building ads into the Facebook-owned messaging service was disbanded in recent months, with the work they've done "deleted from WhatsApp's code."

But the app won't be completely ad-free. Facebook will still integrate it into WhatsApp's Status feature. Facebook will reportedly focus on WhatsApp features that will "allow businesses to communicate with customers and organize those contacts." WhatsApp co-founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton—both of whom have left the company—reportedly expressed concern about the impact a commercial messaging feature will have over the strength of its end-to-end encryption.

Source: The Verge

WhatsApp no longer supports Windows Phone

WhatsApp is culling some of the older operating systems it runs on. The latest one to get axed is Windows Phone. The messaging app no longer supports Microsoft's mobile platform. And older OSes like Android 2.3.7 and iOS 8 or older will not get support after February 1, 2020. Users will no longer be able to create new accounts or verify existing ones on these platforms. You will not be able to transfer your chat history from one platform to another, so you might need to export your chat history as an email attachment if you want access to them. But it would be best if you did so before the deadline.

Source: Engadget

Google Assistant can make WhatsApp calls on Android

Whether you want to make a video or audio call on WhatsApp, Android users can ask Google Assistant to make the call for them. Google's virtual assistant interfaces with different third-party messaging services, so this addition doesn't come as a surprise. The caveat is that it only works through Android, for now. We presume the feature could make its way to other Google Assistant-supported devices, but for now, you need to have an Android smartphone. All you need to say to have Assistant make the call is "Hey Google, WhatsApp video [insert name of contact]."

Source: 9to5Google

Facebook will no longer pre-install its apps on Huawei phones

Embed from Getty Images

Facebook is the latest US company to comply with the country’s ban on doing business with the Chinese tech company. The social media company announced it would no longer  the pre-installation of its apps on Huawei phones. According to a source familiar with the matter, this affects phones that haven’t left Huawei’s factory yet. Current Huawei owners can still use the apps and receive app updates, but new units won’t have Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram pre-installed. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to install the apps yourself. As it stands, Huawei devices still have access to the Play Store, so you will be able to download the apps there. But if the ban continues, then Huawei will be losing access to some of the most popular apps out there.

Source: Reuters