WhatsApp on Android may soon be getting voice message transcription like on iOS
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For nearly a year, iOS users have enjoyed the convenience of transcribing WhatsApp voice messages. Now, it’s looking like WhatsApp is working to bring the same functionality to Android, and its users may soon get the same time-saving feature.
TheSpAndroid‘s @AssembleDebug completed an APK breakdown that reveals there is code in WhatsApp Beta for Android (version 2.24.7.7) that indicates this feature is in development. Furthermore, the code also reveals that enabling transcription will require a 150MB download, suggesting that the feature relies on your device’s speech recognition software.
The feature is expected to be located within the Settings > Chats menu, mirroring the feature’s location on iOS devices. End-to-end encryption will also apply to voice transcripts, meaning that your privacy will remain intact even when your voice messages are turned into text.
The feature could not be activated yet, leaving only the strings in the code to go off of. This means that screenshots could not be gathered, which strongly suggests that this feature is still in its very early stages. However, WhatsApp’s timeline for new features can often be unpredictable, so while there is no specific date for when this feature will become widely available, it could appear in future WhatsApp beta releases at any time.
Once released, this move will put WhatsApp on a more even footing with rivals like Telegram and Google Messages, which already offer transcription tools on Android. However, it is unclear if there will be limitations on the use of this feature. While Google Messages has a free transcription service, Telegram limits non-premium users to a few transcripts per week.
It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp decides to implement this feature and if they will follow a similar model or offer it without restrictions. This could potentially impact the user experience and determine how successful the feature will be in attracting new users to the platform.
Questions & Answers
Q.What specifically indicates that WhatsApp is developing voice message transcription for Android?
What specifically indicates that WhatsApp is developing voice message transcription for Android?
An APK breakdown by TheSpAndroid's @AssembleDebug found code for this feature in WhatsApp Beta for Android (version 2.24.7.7). This code suggests the functionality is currently under development.
Q.Will enabling the voice message transcription feature require a separate download?
Will enabling the voice message transcription feature require a separate download?
Yes, the code indicates that enabling transcription will necessitate a 150MB download. This suggests the feature will rely on the device’s internal speech recognition software.
Q.How will user privacy be maintained if voice messages are transcribed into text?
How will user privacy be maintained if voice messages are transcribed into text?
The article states that end-to-end encryption will also apply to voice transcripts. This ensures that user privacy remains intact even when voice messages are converted into text form.
Q.Have any screenshots of the new Android transcription feature been released yet?
Have any screenshots of the new Android transcription feature been released yet?
No, the feature could not be activated, meaning screenshots could not be gathered. This strongly suggests the feature is still in its very early stages of development.