What you should know
- WhatsApp has added a new calling option to its mobile app.
- Call Links enable users to make a call from any link.
- WhatsApp is working on increasing encryption for group calls up to 32 persons.
One of the greatest features of video conference services like Zoom and Google Meet is the ability of sending links to meetings. Meta appears to finally have caught up with the trend and now has Call Links for WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Call Links are similar to other services. Users can quickly jump into a conversation by simply tapping on a link. The image below shows how users can create new Call Links from the Calls tab at top of the page.
This works for both audio- and video calls. Users can even add the link to a chat.
“Planning a call to long-distance buddies? Do you need to chat live? WhatsApp said in a Twitter post. “Now, you can create and send call links to anyone on WhatsApp even if they are not in your contact list.”
This useful feature is probably more useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is better to have it now than ever!
It doesn’t seem that users can schedule calls with the new link feature. This is in contrast to Apple’s Facetime.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also involved in Call Links AnnouncementWhatsApp has announced that it will test encrypted group video calls for up to 32 users on Monday. This is a feature WhatsApp first announced in May along with its encrypted group video calls. New community featuresIt seems that the company is ready to make this available to customers.
Zuckerberg claimed that Call Links would be made available to WhatsApp users by this week and suggested more details for expanded group calls at a later date.
