WhatsApp Adds Quick Actions for Dates and Addresses
WhatsApp will learn to recognize phone numbers, dates, addresses, and email addresses, and a 'Events' section will appear in settings
WhatsApp has begun rolling out updated quick actions for message text on Android and iOS. According to WABetaInfo, the app recognizes phone numbers, dates, addresses, and email addresses, offering appropriate commands.
Detected data is marked with a dotted underline. Tapping it brings up a menu: a number can be saved to contacts, copied, or used to make a regular phone call. An address can be opened in maps, and an email address can be passed to a mail app.
For dates and times, options include adding to a calendar, copying, and creating an event within WhatsApp. The feature works with both received and sent messages.
Some of these actions were available previously. The update consolidates them into a more visible and convenient interface, reducing the need to manually copy data between apps.
According to WABetaInfo, recognition is performed directly on the device using text patterns. Message content and suggested actions are not sent to a server for processing, so the feature does not alter the principle of end-to-end encryption.
The new feature is gradually appearing for some users of the latest app versions. A general release date for all accounts has not yet been announced.
