Business is unforgiving, even for big titans.
This is why they need to improvise, or release features that may have been overlooked. One of the examples, include Meta’s WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, which introduces support for quick video messages that can be sent on the fly.
Unlike a typical video recording which users can send via WhatsApp, the 'Instant Video Messages' feature allows users to record and send a video directly from a chat.
Instant Video Messages in WhatsApp are like voice and text messages, in which they are end-to-end encrypted.
According to WhatsApp in a blog post:
The feature is a more real-time way for users to respond to chats with whatever they want to say.
Like whether it’s wishing someone a happy birthday, laughing at a joke, or bringing good news, the feature should come in handy.
To use this feature, users can just tap to switch to video mode, and hold to record the video.
When trying to record a video, the feature which will first start a three-second countdown. Users can swipe up on the shutter to go hands-free. Video messages will then start recording from the front camera by default, though users can switch to the phone's rear camera if they want.
And to make recording more effortless, the service has added a new video option to the voice note button.
Users can simply tap the voice note button to switch to video mode.
Meta was first spotted working on an instant video messaging feature in July 2023.
sometimes you just have to see it to believe it now you can capture the moment right when it happens with a Video Message. pic.twitter.com/QiDTRhRRJ6
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) July 27, 2023
What's worth noting, the company is not the first to market with such an option, as Snapchat and Telegram already offer the ability to send video messages to friends on the platform.
Video messages are recorded in a circular format similar to Snapchat, and their content is played in the chat window itself.
WhatsApp's version of video messages is also similar to Telegram's, which lets users respond to chat with videos up to 60 seconds long.
These messages appear in the conversation, which can be expanded to watch the full clip.
Playback of video messages is automatic but on mute. Users need to tap on the video to unmute the sound.