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Topic

Messaging apps

Consumer chat services that carry text, voice and video between individuals and groups, usually with clients on phones, tablets, desktops and the web.

Current stories

productOne report1 publisher

WhatsApp lets people without accounts join calls from a desktop browser once the host admits them

WhatsApp now lets registered users send a call link that people without an account can open in a desktop browser, in calls of up to 32 people. The host admits each guest, and the limits on what guests can do decide which external calls it suits.

Publishers:techrepublic.com

Reality

Evidence50
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+10
Incentives
Not scored
Confidence55
productOne report1 publisher

WhatsApp puts scheduled messages into a live Android beta test

WhatsApp is letting a limited group of Android beta testers schedule messages from 10 minutes to two weeks ahead. Digital Trends traces the feature to a February 2026 development report, and no stable release date has been confirmed.

Perspective Coverage

3 publishers
Builder
Builder 18%
Operator
Operator 42%
Investor
Investor 40%

Reality

Evidence55
Adoption5
Hype gap+10
Incentives
Not scored
Confidence60
productConfirmed12 publishers

WhatsApp matches FaceTime by letting people without accounts join calls from a browser

WhatsApp now lets anyone without an account join its voice and video calls from a browser, with no time limit once the host approves. Guests cannot start calls, send messages or add people, so it fits one-off meetings with outsiders.

Perspective Coverage

12 publishers
Builder
Builder 9%
Operator
Operator 63%
Investor
Investor 28%

Reality

Evidence80
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+8
Incentives
Not scored
Confidence82
investConfirmed4 publishers

Kakao dates KakaoTalk's multi-agent space to the first half of 2027, after a December beta

Kakao opened sign-ups on the 13th for a December closed beta of Kanana Space, an AI assistant inside KakaoTalk. Four of the eight tasks it names, including orders and money transfers, wait for an undated upgrade.

Perspective Coverage

4 publishers
Builder
Builder 40%
Operator
Operator 30%
Investor
Investor 30%

Reality

Evidence40
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+25
Incentives65
Confidence62
productOne report1 publisher

WhatsApp replaces the iPad tab bar with a Mac-style sidebar by default

WABetaInfo reports the sidebar is taking over from the bottom tab bar on iPad, and it is turning up on both TestFlight and regular App Store installs, so two people on the same build can see different navigation.

Publishers:9to5mac.com

Reality

Evidence42
Adoption22
Hype gap+8
Incentives35
Confidence52