WhatsApp on Android may soon be getting voice message transcription like on iOS،
For almost a year, iOS users have enjoyed the convenience of transcribing WhatsApp voice messages. Now it seems that WhatsApp is working to bring the same functionality to Android, and its users might soon benefit from the same time-saving feature.
LeSpAndroid@AssembleDebug's @AssembleDebug has performed a scan of the APK which reveals that there is code in WhatsApp Beta for Android (version 2.24.7.7) that indicates this feature is in development. Additionally, the code also reveals that enabling transcription will require a 150MB download, suggesting that the feature relies on your device's voice recognition software.
The feature should be located in the Settings > Chats menu, mirroring the feature's location on iOS devices. End-to-end encryption will also apply to voice transcriptions, meaning your privacy will remain intact even when your voice messages are turned into text.
When will this feature be available?
The feature could not be enabled yet, leaving only the code strings to be disabled. This means that screenshots could not be collected, strongly suggesting that this feature is still in its early stages. However, WhatsApp's timeline for new features can often be unpredictable, so while there is no specific date for when this feature will be widely available, it could appear at any time in future WhatsApp beta versions. Once released, the move will put WhatsApp on equal footing with competitors like Telegram and Google Messages, which already offer transcription tools on Android. However, it is unclear whether there will be any limits to the use of this feature. While Google Messages offers a free transcription service, Telegram limits non-premium users to a few transcriptions per week.
It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp decides to implement this feature and whether they will follow a similar model or offer it without restrictions. This could potentially impact user experience and determine how successful the feature will be in attracting new users to the platform.
