Signal Copies Several WhatsApp Features To Enthral Rapidly Rising User Base

With what is being deemed as the biggest digital migration in history, messaging app Signal is enjoying a rapid surge in its user base. To enthral these new users, Signal is now working on several new updates to be seen in the upcoming versions of the app.

The features range from customisation to the chats on the app to an increased support for certain group functions. It should be noted that these features already exist on WhatsApp, which is experiencing the flip side of the migration due to a global backlash on its proposed changes to its privacy policy.

To start with, a new feature on Signal now allows its users to change chat wallpaper. The feature has been previously seen on WhatsApp and is now spotted on the latest Signal Beta update released this week.

Another such Signal feature taken from WhatsApp is the ability to set a short status in a user¡¯s contact info page, generally found as ¡°About.¡± The new features have been hinted at in a report by WABetaInfo.

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Also extending its capacity for a particular video call, Signal will now allow the attendance of up to eight participants. The limit was previously restricted to five participants but now matches that of WhatsApp.

Signal has also introduced the ability to create animated stickers from its Desktop app. Users can now share such animated stickers with their contacts, with ¡°Day by Day¡± being the first official animated sticker pack by Signal.

Other such upcoming features on the encrypted chat app include a low data mode for calls as well as the possibility of creating a shareable group invite link to invite users outside the group. These features are already available on WhatsApp.

The new features by Signal clearly show its intent to benefit from the shift to such apps that ensure a higher data privacy and less to no data sharing with third parties. As the migration continues, more such developments can be expected from the company.