Meta announced a bunch of new calling features for WhatsApp. Following the announcement of the long-anticipated iPad client and new tools for combating scams, the platform is rolling out new capabilities for group calls that make calling more convenient and also turn WhatsApp into a makeshift Zoom alternative.
With the latest WhatsApp update, the messenger allows scheduling calls with your friends, relatives, colleagues and other contacts. You can invite people or entire groups to join in advance, with scheduled calls conveniently located in the Upcoming section of the Calls tab. Once the call is about to start, all participants will receive a notification with a prompt to join. The call host will also receive notifications when other people join.
WhatsApp also lets you copy the link to your call to share it with somebody or add it to your calendar. Additionally, participants can raise their hands when they want to speak or send emoji reactions to participate and react without talking. Screen sharing and text messages during calls are available as well. All these changes apply not only to video calls but to voice calls as well.
You can find the announcement on the official WhatsApp blog here.
If you use WhatsApp on Windows 10 and Windows 11, you should also prepare for some not-so-exciting changes. Meta recently updated the WhatsApp Beta client for Windows, and it is no longer a native Windows application. Instead, developers switched to a progressive web app, likely in an attempt to bring the missing features and fix bugs plaguing the native app. You can try the new beta version by downloading it from the Microsoft Store.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp developers are working on other neat features, such as AI-powered writing assistance and improvements for group invite links.