WhatsApp for Jio Phone to get ‘Status’ feature soon

WhatsApp is ready to roll out the 'Status' feature on the app's KaiOS version. This lets users post photos and videos for 24 hours.

WhatsApp on KaiOS offers features like photo and video sharing, voice messages and UPI-based payments. (Pexels/Edited)

WhatsApp for Jio Phone will soon get the ‘Status' feature. It's currently at “Gold Master” stage which means that the feature is ready to roll out on KaiOS. Jio Phone runs on KaiOS which supports apps like WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube.

WhatsApp's Joe Grinstead revealed the upcoming feature in an interview with Android Central. Grinstead added that the team is working on more features for WhatsApp on KaiOS. The app will still have limitations compared to WhatsApp on Android or iOS, but it will get new features soon.

WhatsApp launched its ‘Status' feature back in 2017. It lets users upload photos and videos that last for 24 hours. WhatsApp also synced Facebook for its Status feature. This makes it easier for users to share their WhatsApp Status as Facebook Stories too. Facebook is also planning to punch ads in WhatsApp through the Status section.

WhatsApp on KaiOS comes with the basic features that the messaging app offers. Other than chats, users can also share media like photos and videos, contacts and location.

It also supports the UPI-based payments feature and voice messages. Grinstead said that the voice messaging feature is widely used by KaiOS users since it's much easier than having to type it down on the T9 keyboard. The KaiOS version is also end-to-end encrypted.

WhatsApp is also working on bringing voice calling on the KaiOS version. But as of now this feature has been “particularly challenging” for WhatsApp. And there's no clarity on when and if the feature will ever be rolled out. Voice calling would be a major addition to WhatsApp on KaiOS especially now when more people are switching to internet calls over carriers.