December Update
WhatsApp Channels, Statuses (stories) in the API. Authorization by phone number. New actions in Zapier, Mass checker on GitHub and more.
WhatsApp Channels
Create a channel to share updates and connect with your followers directly through WhatsApp. You can find channels in App under the Updates tab (formerly the Status tab).
We will gradually introduce new channel features, along with the development of this trend at WhatsApp. We will have automation available for any action related to channels.
Right now it is available to get a list of channels, create a channel, send a message to a channel, and receive messages from a channel.
Getting a list of channels
In response to the query you will get channel IDs, title, description, picture previews and some other useful data.
Creating a WhatsApp channel
Send a text post to WhatsApp channel
You can only send a message to a channel where you are an administrator
You will need a channel ID, it looks like this: 120336031708062844@newsletter
An example of sending a text message to a channel:
To send media messages to the channel, use appropriate methods along the same lines.
WhatsApp Statuses (like Stories)
Status lets you share text, photo, video, and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. You can send and receive status updates with people when you both have each other saved as contacts.You can find status updates in the Updates tab (formerly Status) along with WhatsApp Channels.
Get list of stories
Please note that publications can be received even after 24 hours have elapsed. They will not be lost. You can filter statuses by time yourself.
Create & publish story
Status can be both media format (picture, video) and text format (you can choose the background color, text color, text font). However, you cannot change the font text, background color, etc. when loading an image, as they interchange each other (media format takes priority).
Authorization by phone number
You can now link a device using your primary account phone number and a one-time code. Up to four linked devices can be linked without the need to keep your primary phone connected. For the best experience, update to the latest version of WhatsApp.
You can use authorization by phone number both through API and our interface.
In API the method "Get auth code by phone number" will help you:
What's that to you?
If you are using a gateway within White Label, this will make it even easier and faster for you to offer number connectivity to your customers.
You don't have to worry about outdated QR code, constantly updating it.
No need to customize interfaces to QR images.
Getting an OTP code will allow you to authorize WhatsApp even from the customer's phone.
It will speed up the demonstration of your service features
As for our interface, this is available as well in the first authorization step:
Open WhatsApp on your phone (If you receive a Push Notification, use it and go straight to last step)
Tap Menu or Settings and select Linked Devices
Tap on Link a device
Tap Link with phone number instead and enter Code on your phone
Creating and editing products
Managing your store through APIs is taken to the next level. Now you can autonomously keep your store in WhatsApp always up to date, update prices, add products, etc.
See goods by phone number
Check if the specified phone number has goods added to WhatsApp. See which products they are, their photos, prices and description. The cell phone user will not know about it!
Useful for tracking changes from competitors or finding a target audience.
New triggers and actions in Zapier
The no-code Zapier has new events and actions to help you customize integrations of any level of complexity for any purpose.
Triggers:
New message
Call received
Member joined group
New conversation
Group message received
Member left group
Actions:
Send text message
Check if a phone number exists
Send media message
Send group text message
Send group media message
Get groups
Get group participants
You can find more information about integration with Zapier in our knowledge base:
pageZapierGet full-size images of contacts/chats/groups
Previously, when receiving chats or contacts, you could see profile pics in the reply, but they were small size pictures: 96x96. Now you can get large-sized avatars for any chat rooms and groups. The _full parameter is responsible for this.
By phone number, even if there has been no correspondence, you can now get a profile picture and description:
WhatsApp Mass Checker on GitHub
This script is designed for mass checking the existence of numbers in WhatsApp (whether they have Whatsapp installed). You can check either a few numbers or an array.
It analyzes the numbers specified in the phones.json file and classifies them into existing in WhatsApp (exist_phones) and non-existing (not_exist_phones).
Check any numbers from any country. Determine which phone numbers are active and which cannot receive Whatsapp messages.
Free DialogFlow integration
Take advantage of out-of-the-box integration to improve communication with chatbot users
How to use DialogFlow in WhatsApp: Customized for you, NLP Bot fast and accurate analysis of incoming messages, generating relevant and informative responses for your customers.
The integration is completely free and setup takes just one minute. For more details on how to connect, see the page:
Add the channel IP to the Whitelist
GET /health lets you see the IP address of the channel from which webhooks are sent. This will allow you to whitelist it and not miss important notifications.
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