Particle.news
Download on the App Store

WhatsApp Is Building an Android Contacts Hub to Show Who’s Online

The under-development hub would surface live online status under existing privacy limits.

Overview

  • Code in the Android beta version 2.26.13.3, spotted by WABetaInfo, shows a new Contacts Hub that lists which people are online.
  • Users will be able to sort by name or by status, with online contacts first and others ordered by the most recent last-seen time.
  • The feature will follow each person’s settings, so those who hide last seen appear only when online and those who hide online status do not appear.
  • The hub will also suggest people you message in groups but have not saved, prompting easy adds to your address book.
  • WhatsApp is still developing the feature with a tentative spot in app settings and plans for beta testing before a wider release.