WhatsApp has added a feature that allows changing the way notifications are shown per conversation. The feature first appeared in a test version put online by the company behind the messaging app. The feature comes with many options.
The options can be found in the settings of each conversation which users can find by clicking in the titlebar of each chat. WhatsApp has added a new Notifications menu with options that e.g. allow muting a conversation for an hour, 8 hours or a year. Also custom notifications for each conversation are possible, it's possible to set a custom ringtone, block message pop ups, customize the duration of the device's vibration and the color of the notification LED (when applicable).
The options made their first appearance in version 2.12.194 of WhatsApp for Android. The version is not available in the Play Store yet, but has to be directly downloaded from the WhatsApp website.
The update also adds a 'mark as unread' option. This marks a conversation as unread for the receiving user but has no influence on the blue checkmark read indicators that the sender sees on the other side. The feature appears to be only intended to remind the user to answer a message.
It's unknown when the new version with the new features will end up in the Google Play Store. When, and if, these features will also be added to WhatsApp for iOS and Windows Phone is also unknown.
