WhatsApp’s Potential Integration with Microsoft’s Cross-Device Resume
In the evolving landscape of mobile and desktop integrations, Android has yet to establish an official mobile branch for any desktop operating system. However, over the past decade, both first-party and third-party collaborations with Windows have flourished. WhatsApp users may soon experience a significant enhancement on their desktops, as the messaging platform appears poised to adopt Microsoft’s innovative “Cross-Device Resume” feature.
Launched last year, Cross-Device Resume initially rolled out support for Microsoft’s OneDrive, subsequently expanding to include Office, Edge, and Spotify in the Release Preview Channel just last month. The recent addition of Spotify hints at a broader strategy for integrating third-party applications, and according to Windows Latest, WhatsApp is likely to be the next contender. Following early indications in January, it seems that support for WhatsApp is gradually becoming available across more devices within the “Resume” menu of Windows 11 settings. However, at this stage, activating the feature does not yield any tangible results.
The specifics of how WhatsApp will leverage Cross-Device Resume remain somewhat ambiguous. Speculation suggests that the integration could allow users to jump directly to their recently-opened chats or, if the functionality is supported, facilitate seamless handoffs of voice calls between devices. While these possibilities are intriguing, they remain conjectural. What is clear is that WhatsApp is actively working towards a future where this feature will enhance user experience, potentially streamlining access to messages beyond what Meta’s existing desktop client offers.
This anticipated enhancement aligns with WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the synergy between desktop and mobile platforms. In addition to its dedicated PC application, the company has recently begun testing voice and video call capabilities within its web client. This development not only enables users to make calls and share screens but also marks a significant milestone for Linux-based computers, which have historically lacked support for any native client.
