Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,921
38,632



WhatsApp messenger service is today officially rolling out end-to-end encrypted video calling to over 1 billion users of the app across the globe (via TechCrunch).

Video calling had recently been spotted in beta versions of the Facebook-owned chat service on Android, but the feature is now becoming available across all platforms.

Screen-Shot-2-800x476.jpg

Tapping the call button in the top right corner of an open chat thread now brings up the option to initiate a voice or video call. During video calls, users see typical options like switching between front-facing and rear-facing camera, muting the call, or hanging up.

The addition of video calling to WhatsApp aligns the service with Facebook Messenger, Viber, Google Duo, and other chat apps which already include the feature. However, WhatsApp's huge user base and cross-platform support gives it a significant advantage over similar services such as FaceTime, which currently only works on Apple devices, and Google Duo, which only works on later versions of iOS and Android.

"We obviously try to be in tune with what our users want," said WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, speaking to Reuters. "We're obsessed with making sure that voice and video work well even on low-end phones."

WhatsApp recently tested two-factor authentication in beta versions of the app, suggesting the next update could have a significant security focus. WhatsApp rolled out end-to-end encryption on the platform earlier this year, making it impossible for the company or state authorities to gain access to the contents of messages.

WhatsApp is available as a free download on the App Store [Direct Link] for iPhone.

Article Link: WhatsApp Gains End-to-End Encrypted Video Calling
 
About time!

This will be huge. The biggest cross-platform boost for video calling. Will make like easier.
 
Good bye facebook messenger and line. RIP skype
agreed

by the way, what happened to skype. they were the only game in town 10 years ago. felt as if they did not improve their services for years.. even now the quality is so bad its actually disgraceful.

no need for skype now at all..
 
Can some explain how and why encryption is needed for video chats? How can someone listen in or is does a third party have the ability to watch the video chats happening too? Is it just logs of video data that is encrypted like text chats?
 
agreed

by the way, what happened to skype. they were the only game in town 10 years ago. felt as if they did not improve their services for years.. even now the quality is so bad its actually disgraceful.

no need for skype now at all..

This kind of news didn't help Skype:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data

Of course Facebook owns WhatsApp, so I wouldn't trust them either. Facetime and Signal (which is multiplatform) are better choices with privacy in mind. JMHO....
 
Can some explain how and why encryption is needed for video chats? How can someone listen in or is does a third party have the ability to watch the video chats happening too? Is it just logs of video data that is encrypted like text chats?

Anything thats not encrypted, if intercepted can be reverse engineered. A video call is essentially just a data transmission, its all 1s and 0s that end up being video and audio. Without encryption if that data information is pulled by anyone they could potentially view the entire call by reassembling the data.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.