Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / iMore
WhatsApp is releasing a beta test of a new audio and video calling feature for their desktop and web clients.
According to WABetaInfo on Wednesday:
WhatsApp was working on, a couple of years ago, the implementation of calls on WhatsApp Web / Desktop (phone connection is always required). Today we have good news for you!
WhatsApp Calls, already mentioned in many previous articles, is finally coming for some lucky users! We will see in more detail what is happening. It’s pretty simple: we’ve explained that WhatsApp was considering offering Voice and Video Beta Calls and so it was. From a few days ago, some users are seeing a call button in the chat header on WhatsApp Desktop!
As the report notes, this feature has been in the works for about two years. It allows users to answer voice and video calls on WhatsApp desktop / web client in a separate window.
The report states that this feature has been randomly distributed to some specific beta users, and is reportedly only available for “very few people” at this stage. WABetaInfo says the feature is slowly rolling out, and will be available to everyone within a few weeks.
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Earlier this year WhatsApp submitted a group video calling to its mobile platform as a request for such services to be deployed during the pandemic. WhatsApp on mobile supports video calls of up to eight, it is not clear, however, whether this group functionality will be extended to the desktop / web client, or whether it will support remote calls half first.