WhatsApp announces 3 new calling features for smartphone, desktop apps

WhatsApp has introduced timely updates to ensure the best of user experience across its desktop and smartphone apps. Over the past couple of years, the instant messaging app has gone from simply being a text-only platform to a full-fledged video conferencing app.

In recent news, Meta-owned WhatsApp has come up with three major updates to its call feature which are aimed at making the feature ‘bigger’ and ‘better’. Here’s what they are.

3 new WhatsApp call features to look out for

WhatsApp introduced calling in 2015 and, since then, has added multiple new enhancements, including video calls and screen share features. However, the company mentioned how it will be bringing in these three new updates for better usability over the next few weeks.

1. Screen sharing with audio: Users will soon be able to share the video they are playing with their friends on call. An earlier update only allowed users to share their screen without audio, but the new addition is aimed at giving them a more immersive experience.

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2. More participants on video calls: Another new update by WhatsApp will soon let an organiser have up to 32 members in a video call. This update will also be available for desktop or laptop apps, meaning you will now be able to have a larger family or class group on call for discussions, much like the popular video calling app Zoom.

While keeping track of who is speaking on a call may seem difficult on a smartphone app, WhatsApp has also added a Spotlight feature to automatically highlight the person who is speaking.

3. Improved video quality: Lastly, WhatsApp will prioritise better quality audio and video calls with the introduction of the MLow codec. If you’re a smartphone user, this will mean better noise and echo cancellation, which will further help isolate your voice better in a noisy environment. Apart from this, video calls will also get higher-resolution support, no matter the device you use. That said, this is only until you have fast internet connectivity.

When will the new update be available for WhatsApp users?

WhatsApp has yet to mention when the new features will be available for users. But for any more developments, you can always visit Unboxed by Croma for a more detailed report.

The platform seems to be upgrading and turning into a mainstream meeting app but it may still be a while before users can make a switch to WhatsApp over other popular video conferencing apps.