WhatsApp feature lets users watch video while downloading

As per reports, the streaming of shared videos feature is now live within WhatsApp beta version bearing number 2.16.365/2.16.354; users can check out for this functionality by signing-up as beta testers. The new video streaming feature was spotted on WhatsApp beta version 2.16.365 for users on Android platform. The new video feature would surely enhance user experience on the platform. Allowing users to play the video directly from the other person’s phone helps them to stop watching the video halfway through, thereby saving bandwidth. A lot of videos are shared with an average user in various groups of WhatsApp in a day. It has since emerged that scammers are using this service to steal people’s personal information.

To make a video call, users simply need to click on the calling button at the top right corner inside the chat window and choose between “Voice” and “Video” calling options.

While the feature is now available only for the beta app, expect it to be rolled out soon to all the devices.

With that said, it will only be available on Android initially, with iOS seeing the rollout in the coming days (or weeks). This will be indicated by a progress bar being overlaid on the video preview and is not new functionality. It is similar to how YouTube and other online sites stream video.

Here is how it works: If you have your WhatsApp app set up to auto download media to your device, then it would start downloading as soon as it arrives. This will enable you to stream video while it is still buffering. However, the video will not be automatically downloaded to your device.

WhatsApp has traditionally been a little slow in implementing new features. Snapchat is also testing a Snapchat Stories-like feature.