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Leak reveals the next big new features coming to WhatsApp

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:19PM EST

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One of the most popular cross-platform messaging app around, Facebook’s WhatsApp, is about to get a whole lot better. A new report says that a beta version of the app comes with a bunch of new features that users might appreciate.

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According to Macerkopf, WhatsApp is working on a slew of interesting features, including support for larger emoji, music sharing, public groups and mentions.

Users will be able to share music stored locally as well as Apple Music tracks with friends and family. However, for Apple Music sharing to work, both the sender and the recipient have to be paying subscribers. It’s not clear at this time whether the feature will support other streaming services. When sharing a track, a small music player will appear complete with album visuals for the song that’s being shared.

The WhatsApp app already lets users share pictures and videos, files, contacts and links. Music sharing will be added to that list, as the screenshot above reveals.

Support for large emoji is also something users will love, though there are no visuals for them at this point. 9to5Mac reports that the WhatsApp beta team revealed this week that emoji will match the ones introduced with iOS 10, which are three times bigger than current ones.

When it comes to public groups, anyone with a link to a specific group can post content to it, and admins will be able to shut groups downs when needed.

The mentions feature works pretty much just like it does on Twitter: You can simply tag people in your address book within a chat.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.