Soon you will be able to receive codes for an app directly on WhatsApp. Will the new feature contribute to the disappearance of SMS? Here's what it consists of
Do you remember when SMS was the only way to send messages to your friends and family? With the spread of mobile devices, texting users have become a rare species, close to extinction. Blame it on messaging platforms like WhatsApp, which allow you to send text messages (and more) to your friends for free.
And, with the latest innovation coming to the Mark Zuckerberg-owned messaging app, things could get even worse. In the new SDK (the software development platform used by programmers to implement new features in WhatsApp), it's possible to turn WhatsApp into a two-factor authentication app. Obviously, the messaging app won't churn out "single-use" codes, but it can be used to receive codes instead of SMS. In short, yet another blow to SMS, which could soon disappear.
WhatsApp will replace SMS: here's how
WhatsApp celebrated its first ten years a few months ago: it seems like a few, but it has come a long way. Among the greatest achievements is that of having practically stolen the scepter of SMS, which until about a decade ago were the most used to send and receive text messages.
Now the messaging app is preparing to unleash the coup de grace. In fact, text messages are still used by various web services to send and receive authentication codes, those short numerical strings required for two-step verification. But now Zuckerberg's app is about to introduce a big feature. The news has been confirmed on the Facebook Developers website by Calvin Mak. With the new SDK will allow you to receive on WhatsApp verification codes to use to certify your identity on applications. Of course, the SMS option will remain active, but it will only be an alternative, especially useful for those who perhaps do not have a connection (rare but possible) or are still fond of the old methods.
How will the WhatsApp option work?
In the official site of the messaging app, some images of the new feature available for developers have been released. The process will be very simple: once you enter your phone number on the app's home screen, users will have several options. Among them will appear the possibility to use the classic SMS or to take advantage of WhatsApp. After choosing the channel, they will receive the code there. The buttons then will be quite distinct from each other but the objective will be to allow the user to access the applications and prove that he is the real owner of that phone number.