The pandemic year saw a surge in voice and video calls all over the world. Thanks to applications like WhatsApp, we were not only able to connect with our loved ones but many of us also performed critical tasks using voice and video calls. The world also witnessed a change in the work culture where the significance of video calls was realized. Now WhatsApp has launched voice and video calls feature for the desktop version will challenge the authority of Google Meets, Zoom, etc.
WhatsApp announced the launch of voice and video call support for desktop versions on 4th March. The feature was much awaited and users were demanding the feature for a long time. It comes as a relief for working professionals who spend their time working on laptops and use WhatsApp Web for communicating. Till now, the voice and video call feature was limited to mobile applications only.
The company tweeted, “Sometimes you just need a little more space. Secure and reliable, end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls are now available on our desktop app.”
After many trumped-up stories, the Facebook-owned company seems to be more focused on the privacy issue. In an official statement the company claimed that voice and video calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, no one else can see or hear them including WhatsApp. Even if you call from your mobile or desktop the chat/video remains between the two users only. It also said, WhatsApp might introduce a group voice and video calls feature soon for the users.
With over 2 billion users WhatsApp is one of the largest instant messaging applications in the world. It set a record of processing over 1.4 billion calls on New Year’s Eve.
Prerequisite for WhatsApp video and voice calling feature on desktop:
For Windows –Not older versions than Windows 10 64-bit version 1903and newer
For Macbook – Not older versions than macOS 10.13
Here is how you can make voice and video call on WhatsApp using the desktop version:
– Login to WhatsApp Web on your desktop.
– Open the chat of the person you want to connect with via voice or video call.
– Make sure you have an active internet connection, an audio output device, an active microphone for making calls and WhatsApp has access to the webcam and microphone.
– Click on the Voice Call icon on the chat.
– WhatsApp will connect you to your contact and that’s it.
Also read:
- New Rules For Social Media, OTT Platforms & Digital News In India
- Twitter launches voice-based feature Spaces
Social media companies and instant messaging applications are introducing new features regularly. It would be interesting to see who will be able to lure new users and who will be able to retain the existing users in the coming days.
