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How to get the latest WhatsApp features before anyone else

Johannesburg - Instant messaging service WhatsApp will soon launch numerous features for Android and iOS devices – but there is a way to start accessing this feature now.

New beta version updates are released by WhatsApp almost every day and these versions of the app often offer different features from the original build in the Google Play or App Store.

READ: WhatsApp wants to save you from drunken texts

Some users may be familiar with rooting their device or setting it to developer mode to download apps from third-party websites like APK Mirror.

However, this methods can be dangerous if you download malware by accident. Moreover, the app build from a site like APK Mirror can be buggy and crash more easily than trusted downloads from app stores.

Users, though, can easily avoid this by registering as a beta test for WhatsApp and other apps available at the app stores.

How to become a beta tester for WhatsApp:

  1.       Open the App Store or Google Play
  2.       Search ‘WhatsApp’ and open the page
  3.       Scroll to the bottom of the page just above the Developer information
  4.       Under the “Become a beta tester” click “Join”

One clicking join, registering as a tester takes about 10 minutes, but requires no further information from the user.

READ: WhatsApp is now allowing everyone to make video calls

Once approved as a beta test, when a new version of the app is available, users can then click “update” in the app store only to update to the beta version of the app.

The current beta version of WhatsApp allows for new emojis and sending of GIF images among other new features not available in the current and official version of the app.

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