News

Top 5 Features Coming To WhatsApp In 2022

Who doesn’t love new WhatsApp features?

Published

3 years ago

April 9, 2022

top 5 features coming to whatsapp in 2022

WhatsApp has around 2 billion monthly active users, and the instant messaging service is well-aware that its users will remain loyal only if it manages to keep up with competing apps, such as Telegram, Viber, and iMessage.

In 2022, WhatsApp users can look forward to many new and exciting features. Unfortunately, we can’t say with certainty that they’ll all be available by the end of the year, but we’ll certainly keep you informed.

#1 – Instagram Reels Integration

WhatsApp and Instagram are both owned by the same company, Meta, so it makes sense for the two apps to become more closely integrated. In particular, WhatsApp is supposed to get a new section where users will be able to watch Instagram Reels, short videos published on Instagram, directly within the app.

#2 – Last Seen Status Hiding

last seen status hiding

Right now, you can hide your last seen status on WhatsApp for nobody, your contacts, or everybody. Later this year, you should also be able to hide it only from specific contacts. This feature can go a long way in helping users better protect their privacy.

#3 – WhatsApp Community

In the near future, WhatsApp users will have one fewer reason to use Discord because the upcoming Community feature will make it possible for admins to create a community channel with up to 10 groups. Admins will then be able to send messages to all groups at once.

Also Read: How To Backup WhatsApp Chats On Android And iOS

#4 – Message Reactions

message reaction feature

Facebook, Instagram, Viber, and Telegram users are all enjoying the option to respond to a message with a reaction emoji, and WhatsApp users should soon be able to do the same. Exactly how many reactions will be supported hasn’t been confirmed yet, but some people estimate that it will be six.

#5 – Custom Sticker Packs

create custom sticker packs

Stickers are fun, and users love sharing them with others. An upcoming update is expected to introduce the ability to create custom sticker packs using photos and images downloaded from the internet. This feature is guaranteed to unleash a torrent of creativity across the entire user base.

News

Checkout.com Brings Visa Direct Push-To-Card To The UAE

The payment company is the first acquirer in the UAE to launch Visa Direct’s solution, enabling safe, instant money transfers.

Published

9 hours ago

February 17, 2025

Nour Nasir

checkout.com brings visa direct push-to-card to the uae

Checkout.com has taken the UAE a step closer to its goal of a fully digital economy by becoming the first acquirer in the country to offer Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution. The new service will streamline money transfers for both businesses and consumers, enabling near-instant transactions across local and international markets.

Visa Direct connects over 190 markets and supports over 8.5 billion endpoints, including cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets. Push-to-Card transactions enhance efficiency for business users and consumers by allowing money to be sent quickly and easily to eligible Visa cards while leveraging the company’s secure network for reliability.

checkout and visa uae partnership

“Visa Direct is transforming the way money moves globally, and we are excited to see Checkout.com leverage this technology to meet the evolving demands of businesses and individuals alike by offering them a faster, more convenient, and secure way to send and receive funds,” said Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, CEMEA.

The UAE has been at the forefront of digital payment adoption, driven by a national push toward a cashless economy. Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, emphasized this shift: “By providing seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we’re empowering merchants with the agility to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, while effectively meeting the growing consumer demand for speed and convenience. The Push-to-Card solution not only reinforces our commitment to powering payment performance but also showcases our agility in bringing yet another innovation to the UAE market.”

Also Read: Qareeb Partners With Pantheon For GCC Bitcoin Mining Expansion

Checkout.com’s latest MENA eCommerce data highlights the region’s increasing engagement with financial technologies, with around 80% of consumers participating in activities beyond basic online payments, such as money transfers and personal wealth management. The growing demand for real-time financial transactions has made fast, seamless payment solutions a priority.

To meet this demand, Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) have gained traction in the UAE. By integrating AFTs with Visa’s Push-to-Card services, Checkout.com is helping merchants offer secure, real-time account top-ups. Currently processing over one million AFTs per month with Visa, Checkout.com is now playing a leading role in modernizing financial transactions in the region.