WhatsApp Desktop App Now Supports Voice & Video Calls

WhatsApp Expands Calling Capabilities to Desktop App

WhatsApp is now enabling voice and video calls within its desktop application, as announced by the Facebook-owned messaging platform on Thursday.

This update offers a convenient solution for users who frequently work on computers and previously needed to switch to their mobile devices to answer WhatsApp calls.

Initial Functionality and Future Updates

Currently, the desktop app – available for both Mac and Windows – supports one-to-one calls. WhatsApp has indicated that group voice and video calling will be implemented at a later date.

The platform aims to provide a seamless experience, with video calls adapting to both portrait and landscape orientations.

Enhanced User Experience

The desktop client is designed to remain “always on top,” preventing video chats from being obscured by other open applications or browser tabs.

Testing of this functionality began with a limited group of users towards the end of the previous year.

WhatsApp Web Excluded

At this time, support for voice and video calls is not being extended to WhatsApp Web, the browser-based version of the service, according to a company spokesperson who spoke with TechCrunch.

(Facebook previously launched a dedicated desktop app for its Messenger service, which already includes support for group video calls.)

Addressing User Needs

This new feature is expected to be particularly useful for the millions of users who regularly utilize WhatsApp’s desktop client.

Previously, many relied on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet for desktop-based one-to-one video calls due to convenience.

Call Volume and Security

WhatsApp, boasting a user base exceeding 2 billion, has not disclosed specific data regarding the popularity of voice and video calls on its platform.

However, the company reported processing over 1.4 billion calls on New Year’s Eve, a period of peak usage.

Like the 100 billion messages processed daily, all voice and video calls are secured with end-to-end encryption.

Recent Feature Additions and Security Enhancements

WhatsApp has demonstrated increased responsiveness in adding new features over the past year.

In late January, optional biometric authentication – utilizing fingerprint, facial, or iris scanning – was introduced for desktop and web versions, providing an additional layer of security.

Ephemeral messages, photos, and videos that automatically disappear after seven days were also released late last year.

Furthermore, the platform launched its payments service in India, its largest user market.

Privacy Policy Updates

These new features are being introduced as WhatsApp seeks user acceptance of planned changes to its privacy policy, which have sparked discussion on social media platforms like Twitter.

The extent to which concerns voiced by a subset of Twitter users reflect broader public opinion remains to be determined.

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