Starting today, WhatsApp users will be able to make group video and voice calls.
Popular Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp has announced that 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.
Facebook first introduced group audio calls to its own Messenger app back in April 2016, followed by group video calls later that year. Group video calling has surged in recent years across WhatsApp’s rival messaging apps, while WhatsApp itself only rolled out one-to-one video calling less than two years ago.
According to WhatsApp, the new group call feature is end-to-end encrypted and designed to work reliably around the world in a variety of different network conditions.
“Over the last couple years, people have enjoyed making voice and video calls on WhatsApp. In fact, our users spend over 2 billion minutes on calls per day. We’re excited to announce that group calls for voice and video are coming to WhatsApp starting today.”
However, with VoIP restrictions in the UAE, WhatsApp users in the country might not be able to use the feature yet.
Last year, WhatsApp video and voice calls have gone live in the UAE the featured was quickly blocked soon after it was activated.
UAE telcos have since launched two new government approved apps that allow app-to-app voice and video calling over the Internet that users can access at an additional charge.
