WARNING: WhatsApp is not optimized for data usage on a Satellite connection. You may use a lot of data with Whatsapp. Please exercise caution and monitor usage!

Iridium has released a new GO exec App version which includes new Firmware for your GO exec, version 1.0.10. The new Firmware includes two new WhatsApp profiles, WhatsApp Full and WhatsApp Text.

These two new profiles significantly improve from the old default WhatsApp profile. They are much more effective in restricting your device's data usage to WhatsApp only and limiting background data transfers.

PredictWind recommends using the WhatsApp Text Web/App profile only and time-limiting sessions to 15 minutes. Carefully monitor the Data Usage meter in the GO exec App or on the device touchscreen when connecting with any WhatsApp Web/App profiles, old or new.

Please see this help article for steps to update your GO exec if you still need to do so. The new GO exec App versions are iPhone 1.0.6(40) and Android 1.0.7-33.

Using the WhatsApp profiles on your GO exec, unmonitored, you may use a significant amount of your data allowance, either actively or unintentionally. This may cause bill shock. In 15 minutes on the old default WhatsApp profile, you could easily use 5-10MB, or more, even with little use of the App.

WhatsApp is always active on your phone, even in the background, constantly checking and updating your and your contacts' status and receiving updates from any groups you are part of. The larger your contact list and the more groups you're a part of, the more data it will transfer in the background.

Important Note: Using the old default WhatsApp Web/App profile or the new WhatsApp Full profile available in the Iridium GO exec App opens a connection to all services from the company called Meta. Meta owns Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram.

If you have any of these Apps open at the same time as using Whatsapp, they may also consume a large amount of data from the Facebook & Instagram Apps, even if you do not use them.

WhatsApp via Text or Full profiles will not work via a laptop, only a mobile device, e.g. iOS or Android.

The GO exec has two new built-in Web/App Profiles for WhatsApp. To use them:

Important Notes: When connected, below the Connect button on the GO exec App and the GO touchscreen, you will see the Data Usage.

Carefully monitor this usage when using the WhatsApp Text or WhatsApp Full profiles to ensure you do not experience bill shock or exhaust your Unlimited PredictWind Plan Any App Data pack.

When a data session is in progress, the active profile can be changed at any time from the Iridium GO exec device or in the Iridium GO exec App. This may work; however, from testing, we have found it better to disconnect, change the profile and reconnect. You may also need to force close your App and reopen it.

This profile allows text messages, emoticons, and audio calls. It does not support sending photos, media attachments, voice notes or stickers. When using this Web/App profile, sending your first text message may take around 15 seconds. After that, it will be near real-time.

This profile allows full access to most WhatsApp features, including sending photos, media attachments, voice notes and stickers.

For sharing photos, your GO exec will upload 22Kbps and download 88Kbps. Sending large photos, even when compressed, may be slow. We recommend sending photos via PredictMail or downloading an App to resize and compress images before sending.

This profile allows full access to most WhatsApp features, including sending photos, media attachments, voice notes and stickers.

When using any of these profiles, please ensure you have closed Facebook or Instagram and do not have either open in the background when using this profile. You may need to force-close the App and reboot your phone to ensure this is done.

To further limit data usage, please refer to all the additional optimized phone settings below to enable low data mode, disable chat backup and media auto-download. In addition:

Restart your phone and ensure no Apps are running in the background. Open your Wi-Fi settings, then:

To do this in WhatsApp:

Please note you may no longer see the Media Upload Quality setting in newer versions of WhatsApp to enable Data Saver. The Media Auto-Download setting still exists.