WhatsApp is introducing contextual actions for information shared in chats, giving users shortcuts for details such as phone numbers, addresses, dates and email addresses. The feature is being enabled gradually across test and stable versions on Android and iOS, according to the source report.
The recognised text appears with a dotted underline. Tapping it, or pressing and holding the message, opens a menu with actions linked to that specific item. Addresses can be opened in Google Maps or Apple Maps, while phone numbers can be used to place a call, send an SMS or create a contact. Dates and times can be added to the phone’s calendar.
The menu highlights the selected information so users can check what the shortcut will act on before proceeding. If the suggestion is not relevant, they can dismiss it and continue the conversation.
The report says the pattern recognition and text analysis take place on the phone, rather than sending message content to external servers. WhatsApp also includes an in-app feedback option for users to say whether a suggested action was accurate.
The rollout is controlled through WhatsApp’s servers, so installing the latest version may not make the feature available immediately. It should appear as an account is included in the staged activation.
Sources: Pplware.