WhatsApp reveals company location in new functionality tested in Brazil

WhatsApp messaging app has a new feature that allows users to find bars, restaurants, cafeterias and other businesses. The novelty is used in the city of Sao Paulo by companies using the WhatsApp Business version. The test is conducted exclusively in Brazil and is called the Business Guide. It works as a kind of map of user-recommended locations.

“Currently, the guide is only available to select companies in downtown São Paulo that sell products and services in the region, including food, retail and education. Over time, we hope to include more categories and geographic areas and make the guide more accessible to companies using the app, ”the company said in a statement.

WhatsApp provided explanatory video for the registration process (see below), remembering that membership is limited only to companies located in downtown São Paulo.

For users, the option will be available on a unique tab that will appear when the application is updated. As it focuses on the São Paulo market, business metrics will not yet be available to the public elsewhere. Service expansion is not provided.

WhatsApp has a global market with 2 billion users, of which 120 million are Brazilians, according to a survey conducted by application market company Statista and the Internet. The country is second only to India, which has 400 million mobile lines on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Announces Audio Transcription

According to the WABetaInfo website, the messaging app is testing new functionality so that the user knows the content of the audio before listening to it. The idea is to decode the audio messages exchanged in the app.

The novelty is already being tested by participants in the WhatsApp beta testing program and promises to revolutionize the messaging market (in addition to making life easier for those who do not like audio).

In addition, WABetaInfo also announced that the new feature will work independently, which means that it will not rely on Facebook’s servers. Thus, the whole procedure will be carried out directly on the mobile phone using the device’s voice recognition system.

The launch date for the new feature is not yet known, but everyone who participates in the program can already try the new feature.

WhatsApp update will leave mobile phones unavailable

The app announced that from November, devices running Android 4.0.4 or lower and iOS 9 or lower will lose access to WhatsApp. According to the company, these systems will lose compatibility with the new functions of the messenger.

See the list of devices that will not have access to the application:

• LG: LG Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact, Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus Prime F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Prime HD e 4X HD and Optimus Prime F3Q.
• Samsung: Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2.
• Huawei: Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S e Ascend D2.
• Sony: Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L, Xperia Arc S.
• ZTE: Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Grand Memo.
• Outros models: Alcatel One Touch Evo 7, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1 and THL W8.

Those who have a smartphone that is on the list will need to change their smartphone to continue using the app.