WhatsApp’s “People Nearby” Feature Will Allow File Sharing Even When You’re Offline
Android smartphones have different internet-free ways to enable you to share files with people who are around you, such as Bluetooth or Nearby Share. These can be very convenient in moments where internet-based options like sending files over WhatsApp don’t suffice.
However, WhatsApp looks set to cover both sides of the fence by letting you send files to contacts when online, and also send files when offline, thanks to an upcoming People Nearby feature that’s been spotted in the works by WABetaInfo. Certain menus involving the application can be accessed in the app with the right know-how, but it can’t be used to do anything yet.
One screen uncovered that relates to the new feature lists the permissions that it will need to work properly, none of which seem out of the ordinary. Users will need to opt in to use the feature and have the app open in the People Nearby menu before they can their devices can be found. This means that no one will be able to send you anything when you’re unaware.
There’s no idea when this feature is going to go live as it seems that the WhatsApp team at Meta is still doing a lot of development on it. It could show up in a few months or even in 2025; it’s hard to say. However, we can be sure that it’ll only be released at a point when it works exactly as intended.
This Feature Could Potentially Be Very Useful, Even When There’s Internet Available
For people in Western countries, there’s almost always access to fast and high-volume internet, especially over Wi-Fi connections. However, this isn’t a shared experience in many developing countries where cellular data is the primary means of staying connected to the internet.
In these cases, WhatsApp’s upcoming feature could provide a convenient and fast way to transfer large files without the worry of depleting your plan’s data allowance by sending it online over WhatsApp or loading it onto something like Google Drive.
Plus, if you find yourself with a poor internet connection whether you’re in a developing or developed country, you may also find the People Nearby feature useful, as it helps you bypass the sluggishness of whatever network you happen to be on. Hopefully, People Nearby will transfer files at a rate that makes it worth using, but as long as it is several times faster than Bluetooth, that’ll be fine.
