In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports that WhatsApp Web is introducing voice and video calling capabilities, allowing users to make calls directly from their browser without requiring a dedicated app.
- This update particularly benefits Linux users who lack a native WhatsApp application, with all calls remaining end-to-end encrypted for security.
- Future enhancements may include group calls for up to 32 participants, screen sharing, and call scheduling features, though the feature remains in beta testing.
WhatsApp has started rolling out support for video and voice calls on its web app.
The popular cross-platform communication service has a fairly bare-bones web application right now, offering the ability to message on your PC or laptop, and not a great deal more besides.
Users have needed to download the dedicated application if they wanted the full WhatsApp experience in this larger format. However, that’s all about to change.
WABetainfo has spotted the introduction of individual chats to the beta version of the WhatsApp web app, and these support the ability to place calls directly from the web browser. Both voice and video calls are supported, as you can see from the provided screenshot.
WABetainfo
It’s expected that group chats of up to 32 participants will also be supported come the final release, along with features such as call links and scheduled calls.
You’ll also be able to utilise the Screen Share function within these web calls, enabling you to – you guessed it – share whatever’s on your screen in real time with the other party(s).
While this might seem like a less secure way to conduct your WhatsApp chats, all calls will be automatically end-to-end encrypted by default, just as they are within the dedicated apps.
Linux users will be especially happy, given the continued lack of a dedicated WhatsApp app on the platform.
These expanded call capabilities are only showing up for certain users who have signed up for the WhatsApp Web beta program, so there’s no indication of when it might be rolling out for real.
Even so, it’s a welcome piece of positive news for WhatsApp. The last time we reported on the Meta-owned messaging service, it was to reveal the company’s plans to implement advertising into the service.
Users will soon be required to pay as much as €4/£3.99 per month to remain ad-free.
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.