WhatsApp is working on new QR code-based tools which will allow users to easily share contact info and add contacts, WABetaInfo reports.
The report suggests that each user will have their own shareable QR Code; you can add someone to your contact list by scanning the code with your phone’s camera. WhatsApp will fill out your contact’s info automatically when it successfully reads the QR code.
‘When the QR code is detected, WhatsApp will automatically fill all fields and the contact will be added in your address book.’
Additionally, WhatsApp will let users revoke the code so it can’t be used forever.
Snapchat and Instagram use their own variations of QR codes with Snapcode and Nametags. This method is also popular with WeChat users. And WhatsApp already uses QR codes to let users log into its desktop service.
WhatsApp is also testing a refreshed interface for adding new contacts directly from the app. That should make it a lot less cumbersome to quickly begin chatting with someone you’ve met, instead of having to first add them to your phone contact list and then waiting for WhatsApp to refresh its local database.
These features are not yet available on the iOS or Android versions of WhatsApp, but are expected to launch soon.
