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WhatsApp for iOS Gains Group Calling for Voice and Video

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Popular Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp this afternoon announced that the WhatsApp apps for iOS and Android devices now support group calling for voice and video.

WhatsApp users can make group calls with up to four people total by starting a one-on-one voice or video call and then tapping the "add participant" button in the top right corner of the app to add another contact to the call.

whatsappgroupcalling
WhatsApp says that its group calls are end-to-end encrypted and designed to work reliably around the world in a variety of different network conditions.

The feature, which was first announced by Facebook in May at its F8 developer event, is rolling out to iPhone and Android users and should be available to all users soon.

WhatsApp can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: WhatsApp

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
106 months ago
Not sure what's the point of WhatsApp these days since it doesn't seem to have much differentiating features compared to FB Messenger.
I don't understand your comment. Isn't WhatsApp the worlds most used messaging app?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChrisMoBro Avatar
ChrisMoBro
106 months ago
A simple UI for group chat. Much nicer than Apple’s weird floating video rubbish.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1
1050792
106 months ago
Not sure what's the point of WhatsApp these days since it doesn't seem to have much differentiating features compared to FB Messenger.
Encrypted and private messaging should be enough.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
akash.nu Avatar
akash.nu
106 months ago
That's because it's tied to your mobile number, which the iPad doesn't have. You can use the web version on the iPad.
Tied to a mobile number is not an issue as you mentioned the web version works without the need of any phone number. As long as the WhatsApp server can verify which number the account is registered to, it should be able to provide access. They can potentially use exactly the same method of authentication as they do on web but for an iPad app. I think they’re not interested in an iPad app purely because of the user base and the numbers against the smartphones.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
106 months ago
Other than the difference of phone numbers/fb accounts though, there are hardly any outstanding differences. Facebook could easily have folded one app into the other and I doubt anyone would complain.
You really think that? Look at this heat map and it's associated data ('https://www.similarweb.com/blog/mobile-messaging-app-map-2018'). Tell me again how you doubt anyone would complain. WA is the most popular app in 104 countries. FBM is the most popular in 64. Seriously, how much complaining do you think would happen if you told people in 1 country they're messaging platform is being folded into another? Now, multiply that by 100. If by this point, you still think the same way...
Blue - Facebook Messenger Green - WhatsApp Red - WeChat
MacRumors content image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
verpeiler Avatar
verpeiler
106 months ago
Not sure what's the point of WhatsApp these days since it doesn't seem to have much differentiating features compared to FB Messenger.
Doesn't matter at all because realistically you just use what your friends use. In the US, nobody uses WhatsApp. In other countries, they do, sometimes because their restricted Internet plans don't allow anything else.
Quite simple, many people aren't (or weren't) on Facebook when WhatsApp reached it's critical mass (which is essential to even have a chance as a "platform"). Since you can use it with just a phone number and nothing else it is easy to set up and just works.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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