WhatsApp hints to roll out global voice-note player 

San Francisco: Facebook-owned messaging app, WhatsApp is reportedly upgrading the existing voice messages function on its platform with a global voice message player, aimed to allow users to listen to voice messages without keeping chat open in the background.

The feature was spotted during the development of WhatsApp beta for iOS, but the company is also planning to introduce the same feature on WhatsApp beta for Android as well.

The upcoming update is reportedly in development for beta testers at the present stage.

As the update is still under development, WhatsApp may change the appearance of the global voice message player (colors, the interface) before the release.

WhatsApp is working on a global voice message player!

The global voice message player allows listening to voice messages in any section of the app.
This feature will be available in a future update of WhatsApp beta for Android and iOS.https://t.co/zCpnZ7ncvp

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) October 3, 2021

At present, user must keep chat open in the background to listen to the voice note, however, when the feature will be out, users can continue sending messages to other contacts even while listening to the voice message.

In addition, WhatsApp is also rolling out an updated Disappearing Messages feature that allows users to choose among 24 hours, seven days, and 90 days ephemeral durations.  

The change is currently reaching beta testers on iOS.

The Facebook-owned app last year introduced the feature with the option to automatically disappear a particular message after seven days, though some recent beta releases indicated new durations in the works.