Until now, organizing an event on WhatsApp meant creating it within a specific chat, either a single or a group chat, and losing sight of it as the conversation scrolled down. The latest beta version of the app now introduces a substantial change: a dedicated section, accessible from the settings, that gathers in a single screen all the events you have created or to which you have been invited.
WhatsApp tests an events hub: how creation and invites work
From the new section, the organizer can enter a name, optional description, start and end date and time, location, and a cover photo, as well as decide whether to include a link for a WhatsApp call connected to the event. The reminder is set by default to one hour before the start.
On the invitation side, the feature stands out for an unsurprising detail: anyone can be invited, even without having a WhatsApp account, via an automatically generated link. The recipient who is not yet a user of the app must still verify their phone number to be able to respond.
Once participation is confirmed, invited guests can see the names and responses of other attendees, but phone numbers remain visible only to those who already have that contact saved in their address book. The new section, identifiable by a dedicated badge, thus shows in one place both the events you have organized and those you have been invited to, without having to search through individual conversations anymore.
Availability: Android beta only, for now
The feature has so far appeared exclusively on the Android WhatsApp beta version, specifically 2.26.36.5 available via the Google Play Store, and the rollout is progressing gradually among beta testers.
It is not yet clear when the feature will arrive in a stable version, nor if and when it will be introduced on iOS.
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