It appears that WhatsApp could roll out verified accounts for businesses after a change was spotted in the beta app for Windows Phone preventing check mark emojis from being included in account names.
With mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 having ended earlier this month, it has left Windows 10 Mobile as the last actively supported and developed mobile OS in the Microsoft ecosystem. While a number of high profile names have withdrawn their apps from the flagging platform, others, such as WhatsApp, have stuck around, while even offering a beta version of their app for eager testers.
Over the weekend, it appears that an update to WhatsApp beta for Windows Phone was released, bringing the app up to version 2.17.234. In terms of newly incorporated functionality, nothing has appeared to have changed aside from the inability to use the check mark emoji within your display name. While this, in itself, seems rather insignificant, reports have surfaced with regards to this forthcoming limitation.
According to WABetaInfo, small and medium businesses will be able to register and use WhatsApp using a separate app. After having been verified by the service, commercial entities will feature a check mark next to their name in the app, allowing users to more easily identify official businesses. Businesses may also use all features of the service with an unverified status but without the verification logo next to their name.
Seemingly, the system seems to work in a similar fashion to Twitter’s verified account process but while the latter’s implementation can be optionally invoked by any user, WhatsApp’s approach only applies to enterprises.
It is also believed that WhatsApp will also impose additional restrictions and requirements on small and medium business accounts, such as the mandatory inclusion of website and email address information in its profile while prohibiting the display name to be changed. However, like standard accounts, businesses can change their profile photo as often as they wish.
Of course, it remains to be seen as to if or when a business focused app will materialize but, with Facebook having made inroads to support enterprises establishing and maintaining an online presence, it would not seem to be a far-fetched idea.
Source: WABetaInfo via MSPoweruser | Image via Jadson Santos (Twitter)
