India, Oct. 13 -- WhatsApp has begun testing scheduled messages on Android, giving selected beta users the option to write a message now and have it sent at a later date. The feature works in individual and group conversations, even when the sender's phone is offline at the appointed time. It is not yet available to all users.

The change addresses a familiar limitation of instant messaging: composing a message and sending it have usually been the same action. For people coordinating across time zones or preparing reminders outside working hours, separating those steps could be more useful than another cosmetic chat update.

According to feature tracker WABetaInfo, scheduling is appearing in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.40.7. El...