WhatsApp for Android users can now hide 'last seen' notification

After having caused ripples across the industry for agreeing to a buyout by Facebook for a whopping $19 billion, the cross-platform messaging app, WhatsApp has rolled out two new features for mobile users on the Android platform. The new reports say that the update for the Android platform will allow users to hide the 'last seen' notification from other users, with the choice of hiding it from everyone, from certain contacts, or only those not on the user's phonebook.

This features has been available to iOS users for a while. It is now included under the privacy settings on the WhatsApp for Android app. Currently the new features are not available for download on the Google Play store.

A user can however download the apk file from the WhatsApp website. The minimum requirements there, are listed as, having Android version 2.1 or higher and an unlimited data plan. It is also mentioned that the upgrade is currently only for mobile phones running the Android platform, and not tablets.

WhatsApp has added another update, which lets users of WhatsApp for Android hide their profile pictures and status from select friends, strangers or just about everyone. The new privacy tab will only be visible under the new settings tab under account settings after the new version has been downloaded.

Facebook announced the acquisition of WhatsApp on Thursday, in a deal worth $19 billion in cash, stocks and bonuses. WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum has assured over 450 million monthly active users of the popular messaging app that 'nothing' will change for them as a result of this 'partnership' with Facebook. Koum added that WhatsApp 'will remain autonomous and operate independently' of Facebook.