WhatsApp is a simple application to easily exchange short messages, e.g. links, and pictures, and perform audio and video calls.
It is available on virtually any device/operating system: smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops.
Functionality
[edit]- Adding new participants
- New participants only receive future messages
- New users should enter their name and about
- Inviting others:
- You can invite others via a unique link
- The coordinator can add others by their mobile number (add name in mobile contacts)
- An admin has additional rights
- There exist a companion browser app (easily activated via QR code) ⇒ mobile device needs to be reachable
- There exist a desktop app
- Configure the group (logo, description)
- Navigation:
- Get all messages from one participant by clicking on their name
- See groups membership
- Show a group from a person group membership
- Search in all messages
Storage
[edit]- No central database. Everyone is storing ones own copy of the messages (where is the membership stored?)
- Newcomers only see future messages
- Everyone can remove any local message
- You can only remove your own messages from others' device
Media
[edit]- URLs can be easily posted; the first image on the page is shown as miniature
Usage
[edit]- Collaboratively editing Wikipedia articles
- Prepare meetings
- Urgently distribute short messages
Security
[edit]- The groups are closed
- New members have to be invited by URL or added
- The admin can remove (bad behaving) participants
- Identification by mobile number (no login)
Known problems
[edit]- You need to add the mobile number of the others in your contact list to see the name instead of the number (profile names of new participants are not replicated)