WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging application, and therefore it is not uncommon for users to sometimes confuse some of the features that are added. We have talked about the third blue tick, which does not exist nor is it expected, and the latest news has been the channels and access codes.
Now, a function that is generating some confusion among users of this messaging service returns to the main scene. It is a little flag, which is present in some messages. We clear all doubts and explain to you What is it and how can you take advantage of it?.
What does the flag that appears in WhatsApp messages mean?
For some time now, you may have noticed how a small icon appears in some messages, a little flag that is placed next to the time the messages were sent. Contrary to what we may think, it is not a function that WhatsApp randomly places in messages, but a feature that was announced not too long ago.
This is what the flag-shaped icon looks like on WhatsApp
Nor should we confuse this icon with the small star because this is a characteristic that allows us highlight messages within a chat. Specifically, it’s called “starred messages” and you can mark any as such by holding down your finger on it. After this, the options will be displayed in the top bar, where we will tap on the star to highlight it.
On the contrary, the flag icon is only present when the chat in question has message deletion activated. This function allows us to open a new conversation with a contact that we have in our agenda, but its peculiarity is that messages will automatically be deleted once the time we establish has passed (24 hours, 7 or 90 days).
How and what you can use it for
Once we have activated this option, our contact icon will show a small clock, indicating that automatic deletion is enabled in this conversation. But first, let’s explain How active.
In any existing chat, or in a new one, we will tap on the three vertically arranged dots, which are shown in the upper right part of the screen. With the options displayed, click on “Temporary messages”. On the next screen, we will establish the period after which they will be deleted. And we would be ready to take advantage of the function at hand.
In a temporary chat, the “flag” allows us to save messages
Now, in a conversation with automatic deletion, if we leave our finger pressed on a message, the top bar options will changeand instead of showing the star of the featured messages, we will see the flag icon, which is actually more similar to a bookmark.
All you have to do is tap on the icon in question so that even though the chat ends up deleted after the period we have set, these messages are still available. Therefore, it is a suitable function to preserve messages in a chat that we will lose in the future.
When we make a conventional voice call, we use the mobile network offered by telephone antennas. But what happens when there is no coverage and there is no signal? Can’t make voice calls? The short answer is no, but the long answer is yes, as long as we have access to a WiFi network. thanks to VoWiFi technology.
VoWiFi allows you to make calls to any mobile or landline phone without having to have coverage, just have the mobile connected to a WiFi network. It looks good, but at the moment it is not available in all carriers or in all smartphone models. It’s not exactly the same as WhatsApp or Telegram voice calls, for example. Thus, a series of doubts arise which we will resolve.
What are WiFi or VoWiFi calls
As we said before, VoWiFi calls (Voice over WiFi) they are voice calls we make through a WiFi connection instead of going through the conventional network. Although there are few places in Spain where there is no mobile coverage, this technology allows you to make calls if there is a WiFi access point, regardless of the technology (fiber , ADSL, etc.). If there is WiFi, calls can be made.
The most obvious difference with VoLTE or VoIP is that with VoLTE calls we use the 4G network (it does not consume megabytes), while VoIP calls use any internet access point. VoIP, for example, are WhatsApp or Telegram calls. Like VoLTE calls, VoWiFi calls do not consume megabytes of the tariff. It is also not necessary that the other party is connected to a WiFi network.You can receive the call if you are connected to the mobile network.
Although the call is made via WiFi, when using the service, the same restrictions as in our tariff. What does it mean? Among others, the following:
We call with our own number.
VoWiFi calls are billed at the same price as a normal call (zero euros if you have a rate with unlimited calls) and the minutes consumed are deducted from any bonuses that can be activated.
International calls are billed at the same price, as are special rate numbers.
Emergency calls can be made.
Roaming will depend on each operator.
That said, it should be noted that not all operators offer VoWiFi service in Spain, so let’s see who does it. Likewise, WiFi calling is not available on all smartphones, so we will also see which devices do.
Operators offering WiFi calls in Spain
Currently, the operators offering the VoWiFi service in Spain are Orange, Amena, Movistar and O2. Vodafone and the MásMóvil group are excluded, at least for the moment. And is this VoWiFi service is relatively new, to the point that Orange activated it last May and Movistar in September 2019. It is not a very widespread technology, in a word.
The conditions depend on each operator, so we’ll look at them separately:
Orange: VoWiFi service is included in all residential contracts free of charge. In the case of business customers, the service is available to freelancers and companies with less than five lines. It is not available for those using the Eco card or for prepaid customers. They also cannot be used outside of Spain.
Menace: The green operator shares Orange’s conditions, which means that the VoWiFi service is included free of charge in the rates. VoWiFi calls cannot be made outside of Spain.
Movistar: The service is included in the rate at no additional cost and activated for all customers under contract, but not prepaid.
O2: the service is included in the price at no additional cost. Roaming with WiFi calls follows the same rules as a traditional roaming call and the cost depends on the country to which the called number belongs.
VoWiFi compatible phones
If your carrier is listed above, it means that you have access to the WiFi calling service, but now you need to consider another thing: the smartphone model. Not all cellphones on the market are compatible with WiFi calls and each operator has different devices. Operators have compatible mobile phones listed on their websites, but the list may not be up to date. If in doubt, a simple call to customer service to request your model should resolve the issue.
By the way, even if VoWiFi calls are activated in the tariffs, they must also be enabled on the device itself. On Android, the route will depend on each smartphone and the manufacturer’s personalization layer. On iOS, it’s always the same:
Android: Settings> Connections> WiFi calls and activate the corresponding box. If you can’t find it on your mobile, use the search engine in the settings app and search for the term “WiFi calls”.
iOS: Settings> Phone> WiFi calls and check the box.
Movistar
For the moment, the latest official information from Movistar indicates that the only devices compatible with the VoWiFi service are the Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 +, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 + et Samsung Galaxy Note 9. From SamaGame, we have contacted the company to see if there is a newer list and will update when we receive a response.
O2
O2 has two requirements. The first is a compatible mobile and the second is have a certain SV-VoLTE version or higher. It depends on each model in particular, but to know the SV-VoLTE version of your smartphone, just check the IMEI. Dial the code *#06# on the mobile dashboard. The IMEI (15 digits) and a one or two digit number will appear next to it. This number is the SV-VoLTE version. That said, the compatible mobiles are as follows.
Huawei
Samsung
Apple
IPhone 6s or higher is supported, but the service has not yet been activated. They are working on it, but there is no news about it.
Orange
Orange is by far the one that supports the most models. The list is long, so for a tip, try using Ctrl + F to find your model in the list. The specific devices are:
Samsung
Huawei / Honor
LG
Sony
OPPO
Xiaomi
Apple
iPhone 5S and later.
Apple Watch S3 from now on.
Wiko
Orange
Orange Dive 71 (ZTE BLADE A506)
Orange Neva 80 (ZTE V770)
Orange Rise 52 (5044P)
Orange Rise 54 (5033Y)
Menace
Amena claims on its website that the service is compatible for all iPhone models as well as all Android devices, whether purchased with Amena or on the open market.
Differences from other apps offering WiFi calling
At this point, it should be noted the main differences between VoWiFi calls and the calls we can make on WhatsApp or Telegram, to give a few examples. The main difference is that when we make VoWiFi calls, we use our mobile line. Although the connection is established via WiFi, for convenience, this is a normal call and current and we can do it on any mobile or landline phone, connected or not to a WiFi network.
When we call through a VoIP service such as WhatsApp or Telegram, the call is passed from one customer (the application that we have installed on the mobile) to another similar customer (the application that is installed on the mobile of our contact). Both people must use the same appThat is why you cannot call a mobile number from WhatsApp, but you call “a WhatsApp account”, so that we understand each other.
So, in the case of using a mobile network, these calls consume data on our tariff and they are not deducted from our monthly minute limit or our minute bonus (yes gigas bonus). With WiFi, this is not a problem, because it is a package. And now that we are on the topic of WiFi, VoIP calls from WhatsApp or Telegram that are made over WiFi do not have roaming restrictions, so they can be used to talk to people from or from abroad without fear of a bill. .
Despite the fact that WhatsApp messages are deleted for everyone, it is still possible to recover them. And applications like Auto RDM allow it: this free application can automatically restore deleted text messages, photos and videos. And many other functions, such as writing a WhatsApp number without adding it to the phonebook.
How many times have you seen the “Message deleted” notice in a conversation and wondered what the contact would have said to delete it? Applications like WhatsApp allow go back in time to go back and delete the share, but there is still a trace. And apps like Auto RDM can grab it: with this new app, you can see what was said in your groups even if you weren’t reading. Everything in a comfortable way: the app itself take care to alert you if a message has been deleted.
Message and multimedia content restorer
The “magic” that makes these apps work is in the notification service: since WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and the company report all interactions, this trace is registered as long as there is an application that remains vigilant. There are many apps of this style, we have recommended one ourselves. And Auto RDM won us over for its simplicity and efficiency, because it allows you to retrieve multimedia content and also because it offers very useful additional functions.
Automatic RDM is clean enough in terms of permissions and privacy, although the risk is implicit in its use: given that should read all notifications from your phone, you must understand that its use compensates you. Beyond that, Auto RDM accesses the storage (to save deleted files), asks to start automatically (so that no message escapes) and to avoid energy savings (to always stay late). It’s clean enough to recommend.
The design is simple, also quite polished. You can add any application: Automatic RDM will monitor it for deleted content. WhatsApp is the most obvious use, but you can also use Auto RDM to retrieve conversations from Telegram, Facebook Messenger or Instagram, Direct, for example.
Automatic RDM will notify you if someone has deleted a message, text and video or photo
The app will continuously monitor notifications of deleted messages. And when it detects them, it sends you a warning: you can read these messages in the Chats column (they are divided by contact and conversation). In case the deletion is a photo or video, this content will be recorded in the ‘Media’ column– You can get it back even if it disappears from conversations. And if you want Auto RDM to monitor specific words, you can add them in the ‘Vigilante’ tab: the app will send you a notification of all threads that use those words (very useful for avoiding wedding invitations).
In addition to recovering messages, Auto RDM allows you to clean your phone from files downloaded by WhatsApp, you can save their states and even includes a very useful option: send messages without the contact being in your directory. What do you want to talk to the plumber for example? Use the ‘Direct Chat’ option (bottom right), write their number and tell them what you want. A conversation will be created on WhatsApp without you having to save their phone number, but they will see yours.
Automatic RDM works great, but there are several recommendations to keep in mind:
The app cannot recover messages deleted before installation.
Voice memos cannot be recovered.
The automatic RDM cannot save messages if you have opened the chat where they were deleted: remember that there must be a notification for there to be a recording.
It is not necessary to deactivate the notifications: in this case, the deleted messages could not be read.
You can download Auto RDM and use it for free without any problem, although it does include ads. These can be removed with an in-app purchase of 2.19 euros. What do you want from the free premium version? The developer gives codes to XDA developers.
The good thing about having a smartwatch is that in addition to giving you the time, it can record your exercise sessions and keep up to date with the notifications you have on your mobile in applications like WhatsApp. On smartwatches with Wear OS, in addition to seeing notifications, you can also interact with WhatsApp from the watch.
Although WhatsApp does not currently have an official version for Wear OS, that does not prevent you from reading and replying to WhatsApp messages from your smartwatch. We will see how it works and exactly what you can do on WhatsApp with a Wear OS watch.
How to use WhatsApp on a Wear OS smartwatch
As we mentioned before, WhatsApp does not have a version for Wear OS, which is good and bad news. The good news is that you don’t need to do absolutely anything to start using WhatsApp on the watch, except sync it with the mobile, since all interactivity happens through notifications.
The bad news is that this somewhat limits what you can do from a Wear OS smartwatchAlthough the truth is that all the basics are there, and there are only a few omissions such as calls and video calls or voice notes.
What you can do with WhatsApp on Wear OS
Thinking of buying a smartwatch with Wear OS but not sure if it gets along with your WhatsApp? Here we tell you everything you can do on WhatsApp with a Wear OS smartwatch, Today.
Read messages
The most basic, reading messages, is present. That is to say, when you get a new message to WhatsApp, it will be shown on the Wear OS watch as long as you keep it synchronized with the mobile.
View photos and stickers
The good news is that even though WhatsApp support for Wear OS is limited, you can at least see the photos and stickers that are sent to a chat. At first they will be shown as an emoji, indicating that a message with a photo has been sent, but tapping on it displays the photo in question.
Respond with quick responses
When you get a new message on WhatsApp, you can easily reply to it with bubbles with answers “smart”. Notice the quotes, and is that answering “Yes” or “No” to a “Hello” does not seem too smart.
Write – or dictate – a response
Luckily you can also write manual answers, without having to resort only to boring prerecorded messages. Wear OS gives you three ways to reply to a message, they are as follows:
Using the microphone: you dictate the response to the clock, and it will be sent to the other person as text.
Drawing an emoji: To respond with an emoji, you must draw it to find the emoji you are looking for.
With a keyboard– There is also the classic option, respond by typing with a miniature keyboard on the clock screen.
Mark as read
When a new message arrives on WhatsApp and is shown to you on your phone, you have a few additional options besides replying to it. Too you can mark it as read without having to open it, as well as pressing Open on phone, which will do just that, open that chat on your mobile.
Send messages
WhatsApp does not have a version for Wear OS, and therefore its use is quite reactive. That is, most of the functions you can carry out depend on someone having written to you before. Luckily it is possible send messages to a specific person, with the help of the Google Assistant.
It is not tremendously practical, but you can write a WhatsApp message asking the Assistant exactly that “send a WhatsApp message”. The Assistant will then ask you who you want to write to and the content of the message. At the moment this does not work for calls.
