WhatsApp launches channel function in Colombia and Singapore, a one-way transfer tool for individuals, companies or the media to send text, photos, videos, stickers and surveys.
After testing, this innovation will be available to more users and in more countries. Additionally, it allows anyone to choose who they are interested in receiving information from, such as their hobbies, sports teams, news from local authorities and much more.
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Paloma Szerman, the app’s public policy manager in Latin America, explained the scope and details of the channels.
“Colombia has several features, these are the decisions made for each particular vehicle. There are many users of the application in the country, it has a good market size and infrastructure, and its functioning is ideal. There is an even distribution between Android and iOS as well. Likewise, there is active use of the app and this will allow us to make changes to the global rollout.”
The option is for managers to have a different way to build loyalty with their business through these channels.
Since the original idea of WhatsApp was to send private messages between friends, family and communities, channel creation offers a big step our users want.
(You may be interested in: WhatsApp: To follow EL TIEMPO’s new information channels step by step)
“We think it’s time to finally integrate a simple, reliable and private streaming tool. Therefore, both admins and followers’ personal information is protected,” he said.
Testing began on June 8, when the tool became available.
“At different stages, more countries are joining and changes are being made that are thought of as functions. We started with 30 local allies such as EL TIEMPO, Fundación Gabo or Tulio Recomienda. It is scalable as it is one-to-many communication.Well, it has rules and it’s optional,” he said.
Your phone number and profile photo will not be shown to a channel’s followers, your phone number to the admin or other followers. The user decides who to follow and this choice is private.
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Additionally, the channel history will be there for a maximum of 30 days. Admins will also have the option to block the options to take screenshots and forward content from the channel.
Admins can decide who can follow their channels and whether they want their channel to appear in the directory.
“In order to receive these updates, it is sought to separate from the conversations that people usually have on WhatsApp, which is the traditional use of the app. Also, that way you don’t fill your inbox. That’s why a new tab called ‘News’ has been created. Where are the WhatsApp channels and statuses?
Messages are designed this way because it is a private messaging medium.
“There is also the possibility to search and discover channels, it is not mediated by your contacts to follow you, to be recommended or to be searched in the same application in the news tab, magnifying glass, topic or title. Name of interest to see available channels and start following them and getting their information,” he concluded.
TECHNOLOGY WRITING
tecnósfera@eltiempo.com
On Twitter: @TecnoesferaET
Source: Exame
