WhatsApp has rolled out a beta testing program for the Android platform, home to its largest user base across all the platforms.
Before the launch, WhatsApp was content by allowing developers install APK files directly from its website. Now the messaging service has made the Andriod beta testing program public on Play Store.
The users looking forward to running the beta version of WhatsApp need to sign up first by going to the beta version listed on Play Store. Once the users taps on the ‘Become a Beta Tester’ button they can start using the beta version on their smartphones. After the sign up process, WhatsApp will then send an update through the Play Store to the smartphone used for signing up.
As the beta version will be laden with bugs, users might find it an hard nut to crack initially. User will also have to install files from untrusted sources in order to reap full benefits of the beta version. The beta version, though comes with its own share of risks, will give users lot of time to play around with the new features.
It was due to similar beta versions that WhatsApp saw the inclusion of a new material designs, a new voice calling feature and the much essential emojis on its platform. By officially launching a beta version on Play Store , WhatApp can deliver updates automatically to its beta testers.
WhatsApp, the messaging service acquired by Facebook recently announced that it had reached one billion monthly active users, most of these users accessing the plaftomf through the Android platform. After Facebook app on Android, WhatsApp became the second Facebook owned application to cross one billion installations on Android platform.
WhatsApp’s popularity stems from the dominance of the Android platform, which is rules over every other OS in the developing markets. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger have equally benefited from the affordable Android smartphones sought after in the emerging markets.
