WhatsApp, Facebook-owned messaging platform , has finally launched the voice and video calling from desktop. WhatsApp’s latest update comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the importance of services like Zoom, to hold meetings, group calls between employees during work from home.
It also mentioned that it will soon expand it to include group calls. However, the company didn’t specify the number of people that can be included in a group call. On WhatsApp mobile app, the group call feature extends to up to eight people.
WhatsApp, emphasized that its voice and video calls on desktop are end-to-end encrypted. and has learnt to tread cautiously as recently it was subjected to controversies in India over its updated privacy policy,
We’re starting with one-to-one calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we make sure we can give you a reliable and high-quality experience. We will be expanding this feature to include group voice and video calls in the future
WhatsApp
Availability
WhatsApp mentioned that desktop calling is supported on:
- Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 and newer
- macOS 10.13 and newer
Steps to make a Call using WhatsApp Desktop
- WhatsApp requests the access to your computer’s microphone or webcam
- You’ll need to have an audio output device and microphone connected to your computer for calls.
- Open the individual chat with the contact you’d like to call.
- Click the Voice call icon.
- How to make video calls using WhatsApp desktop:
- Open the individual chat with the contact you’d like to call.
- Click the Video call icon.
WhatsApp has highly engaging user base of over 2 billion across the world. WhatsApp said it processed over 1.4 billion calls on New Year’s Eve — the day usage tends to peak on the Facebook-owned platform.
The new feature of voice and video calls in the desktop version of the app will aim to take on its rival videos calling apps like Zoom, Google Meet etc.
WhatsApp voice and video calls have seen a boom since the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns to curb the spread. This led to a complete overhaul of the work scenario in the world where most were asked to work and coordinate from home instead of coming to the office.
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