https://sleekflow.io/blog/whatsapp-multiple-devices
You may have received loads of WhatsApp updates for the past years. Some of them may not matter, but it seems the latest one definitely does. The global mobile messaging giant is pushing out a beta for a new service that allows non-mobile phone devices to use the service without needing a registered phone being connected to the internet. So yes, you no longer need a mobile phone to use WhatsApp.
Though WhatsApp already supports two devices right now, such as the web WhatsApp, it needs your registered mobile phone to be connected to the internet. So having this update basically revolutionizes the way we use this app. Imagine the extra convenience and flexibility you get as WhatsApp supports multiple devices.
Wow.
So yes, it is worthwhile to look deeper.
If you’ve used WhatsApp on your mobile phone and other devices, you’d probably know that you need to have all devices linked with one mobile phone to connect to the same account. There are two significant disadvantages. Firstly, you can’t support more than one phone at a time, meaning you can never run WhatsApp on two mobile phones no matter how much you need to. Secondly, even if you only have one registered mobile phone, you can only link your WhatsApp account to four devices at any point. Usually, that’s enough, but you may be in an awkward situation if you need more.
So here comes the new beta. It lets you log in to WhatsApp with your different devices without linking them with your mobile phone. All your devices are now stand-alone, and you no longer need to worry about whether your phone is handy.
To be part of it, simply update your WhatsApp to the latest version. Then, select “Linked Device” as you’d do when using your web or desktop setup for WhatsApp. But this time, there’s a new option called “Multi-device beta.” Manually enable it and go through its pretty comprehensive support page.
Once you’ve joined the beta, the system will log you out of all devices, and you’ll need to sign in manually for all of them. To do that, authenticate your mobile phone with your fingerprint or Face ID, then scan the QR code.
You’ll notice everything looks almost the same, except you’ll no longer get the annoying notification that your phone is running flat. And as always, everything is end-to-end encrypted.
Happy days!
But there’s a catch. You might think you could use this update for your eCommerce with multiple logins. Well, think again. After all, this new feature is designed for ordinary users, not businesses. So if your phone’s flat for some reason and you still need to text your friends and family, this update could be a lifesaver. However, if you’re a business owner, you’re still confined within the four-collaborator quota, so it might not work smoothly for you and your organization.
Also, there are two other problems with using the new feature for business purposes.
Firstly, when you switch to beta, all the message pins will be gone. That may not be a major issue, but if you have any essential customers or contacts, scrolling through all the threads to find those that matter will be a huge hassle.
Since the nature of this update is individual-oriented, it lacks the essential functions of allocating conversations to other staff and pinpointing who is talking to which customer. This disadvantage may be particularly obvious to companies handling multiple threads and inquiries every hour. Adding to the fact that you only have four device slots, using the beta for business reasons really doesn’t seem like a good move.
Hmm, bummer.