Users on the latest version of WhatsApp Beta on iOS, Android, and web have received the ability to view the ETA when sending a particularly large document across WhatsApp. ETA stands for estimated time of arrival, in case you’ve neglected your airline acronyms in recent years.
WhatsApp’s desktop version also has this feature. The only difference? The desktop update arrived a month ago.
Previously, when someone sent a file that was larger than expected, you just had to wait for the file to finish sending. With the update, the remaining time is visible. Users continue with their day without spending time on a file that still has an ETA longer than 5 minutes. Uploaders can also view the ETA when sending a larger file.
The limit for sending a file on WhatsApp is currently capped at 100MB, but this may change in the coming weeks.
The ETA for the ETA
While this feature may not grab your attention just yet, we assure you it will. WhatsApp is testing the ability to send files up to 2GB in size. At present, this feature is only available to users in Argentina. The release date for the rest of the world remains unknown. Still, it remains a prime example of why the ETA feature may be useful.
WhatsApp has not given any official release dates for either of these upcoming updates, meaning there’s no ETA for the ETA. Since WhatsApp has reached beta tests for both, hopefully there isn’t long to wait.
Beta luck next time
If you’re wondering how you can get into the beta to test these features out yourself; you can’t. The WhatsApp Beta Program is full up – but that shouldn’t stop you from checking. On your device’s App Store, find WhatsApp and scroll down. Here you will find the necessary information on the beta, and whether or not you can join.
For those already a part of the Beta Program, these are the versions that support the ETA feature;
Android:2.22.8.11
iOS: 22.8.0.74
Desktop:2.2209.3
Source: WABetaInfo