WhatsApp Tests Event Scheduling Feature Across iOS and Android

With over 2 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging program in the world. It aims to replace Google Calendar, and not only for group conversations.

The messaging technological giant, which was first seen in October 2023, has been developing a centralized event scheduling system for group chats and, later, Communities. Users can now create and manage events from within the app, including the event’s name, description, date, time, and location (or a call link if the event is virtual), thanks to a functionality that was ultimately released last summer.

A useful new tool that WhatsApp is introducing will make it much simpler to schedule appointments with friends, co-workers, and even your dentist. Up until now, WhatsApp’s event creation capability was limited to group conversations, which was mostly useful for planning community chat tasks or group get-togethers. Whether you’re organizing a work meeting, a dinner date, or simply reminding your roommate to finally pay their portion of the Wi-Fi fee, this new tool allows you to schedule events right within a private conversation.

It’s possible that WhatsApp will soon add the Events function to private conversations. In May 2024, the messaging app owned by Meta introduced this capability to WhatsApp Communities. According to recent reports, the business is testing the feature in individual conversations for iOS and Android customers. In the following days, it could be made available to consumers worldwide. In the past, the company was exploring a feature that would let users include music in their Status updates, much like Instagram, another social networking website owned by Meta. This feature is also reported to be available to certain beta users who presently have access to the functionality to test with it. The most recent beta release (version 2.25.3.6) adds the capability to create and share events in individual chats. Though this is good news for serial planners and bad news for flaky pals who are erratic.

According to a WABetaInfo source, WhatsApp is developing a feature that will enable users to create and share events in private chats. At the moment, only group chats and communities support the functionality. Both iOS (version 25.2.10.73) and Android (version 2.25.3.6) beta users are presently testing the functionality. 

According to the rumours, the event scheduling tool has already been made available to a few beta testers and is being progressively made available to additional customers. In the next few months, it could be made available to normal users. This upgrade will allow users to book events on their personal chats, eliminating the need for them to form two-person groups as a workaround.

WhatsApp users can now plan and oversee events from within private chats thanks to the new functionality. According to the paper, by combining all relevant information into a single message, it eliminates the need for back-and-forth communications.

The messaging technological giant owned by Meta appears to be finally extending the event scheduling tool to one-on-one conversations after realizing that it may also be helpful for individual connections. The events function on WhatsApp may be used for both personal and professional objectives, such as scheduling informal get-togethers, scheduling medical appointments, setting up business consultations, and creating payment reminders. When establishing an event, users have the option to attach audio/video call links for virtual interactions or designate locations for in-person meetings. Additionally, recipients are free to accept or reject invites.

There is no need to go through several messages in search of the event specifics because both parties may view the information at any moment within the conversation after it has been given. To ensure there is no misunderstanding, the other individual can also accept or reject the invitation. The events will be highlighted in the chat and in a special ‘Events’ section on the contact information screen, and the process of creating an event will be located in the paperclip/attachment menu. It appears that event creation in one-on-one conversations will function exactly like it does in group chats.

There are possible uses for this functionality outside of personal use. For instance, physicians and patients may use it to make appointments, freelancers and customers can use it to arrange project deadlines or payment reminders, and so on — all without ever leaving WhatsApp, which is obviously something the business wants to happen.

Additionally, receivers of the event invite will have the choice to accept or refuse it, much as with Google Calendar events and the Microsoft Teams event. This is particularly helpful for companies that schedule appointments. Although the service is currently in testing, users should soon be able to access events for one-on-one talks on WhatsApp’s stable channel, given that the app already has tech infrastructure for event scheduling integrated across two other chat categories.

WhatsApp started releasing new icons for its paperclip-attachment sheet shortly after this.