WhatsApp Rolls Out Calling Updates for Desktop and Mobile

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp has announced some improvements to its calling features across desktop and mobile platforms ahead of the holiday season, such as the ability to choose participants from group chats, use new effects on calls, and take advantage of higher resolution video.

The ability to select specific participants when initiating a call from a group chat aims to let users avoid disturbing the entire group, and could be helpful for coordinating surprise events or private discussions within larger group contexts.

The update also brings ten new video effects to make calls more fun and engaging, ranging from playful puppy ear filters to underwater themes and karaoke microphone effects.

In addition, WhatsApp says desktop users will benefit from a reorganized calls interface that should streamline the process of starting calls, creating call links, or dialing numbers directly from the desktop app. Lastly, the Meta-owned company has also enhanced video call quality across both one-on-one and group calls, regardless of whether users are connecting from desktop or mobile devices.

Article Link: WhatsApp Rolls Out Calling Updates for Desktop and Mobile

 

[TimFL1]

This is probably in preparation for registering as a default app for calling.

 

[contacos]

Where is the iPad support that was already in a WhatsApp Beta 2! summer ago!!!!

 

[TwoBytes]

Two things I want that were 'announced' but not delivered yet

-Check out the images - Meta AI image creation which is more realistic than Image playground (sorry MR, I would link an article but you didn't write one). Also, no need for an iPhone that supports AI for images!

-Whatsapp voice transcription

 

[Xade]

l just want an ipad app. Don't care about all the bells and whistles. Oh, and getting the watch app back would be good too!

 

[BigTimEnergy]

Remember USA, the rest of the world actually uses WhatsApp.

 

[Ctrlos]

I'm more interested in how long Zuckerberg is going to keep it free.

 

[contacos]

I'm more interested in how long Zuckerberg is going to keep it free.

It actually used to cost money before META acquired it

 

[Rhhk]

Don’t care. Just release an iPad app already!

 

[AbSoluTc]

Remember USA, the rest of the world actually uses WhatsApp.

Yes yes, we know!

Also, what's with the dog ears/nose filter? It's not 2012 anymore.

 

[mdatwood]

Where's iPad support and multi-number support for iOS? Features that actually matter to people.

 

[davide_eu]

Where's iPad support and multi-number support for iOS? Features that actually matter to people.

Really? I understood that idevice users were not interested in WsApp, but only to keep their bubble blue. Isn't it?

 

[SteveLV702]

Ya cant get for Mac as no WhatsApp for Business available for Mac. And also need iPad App…. Come on give the people what they want

 

[ELman]

Meta owned = no for me

 

[mdatwood]

Really? I understood that idevice users were not interested in WsApp, but only to keep their bubble blue. Isn't it?

Huh? I don't care about blue bubbles, but messaging that works across all my devices and numbers. iMessage does that today. Another feature that would be nice for WhatsApp is translation in app. FB Messenger does this, iMessage does this, why not WhatsApp? I think Meta purposely gimps WhatsApp hoping to push people to messenger.

 

[Trausner]

I hear the new features CALLING for an iPad APP…!

 

[joeblow7777]

Why is there still no iPad app for one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world?

 

[dinobear]

I like whatsapp but that image above showing the updates... the only thing I can see is a guy pretending to be a dog and it makes me wonder how much longer I am meant for this world.

 

[icanhazmac]

Remember USA, the rest of the world actually uses WhatsApp.

Yup, and we still can't figure out how the "rest of the world" got scammed into it! It is free because Zuck hoovers up your data and sells it! Let that sink in.

This is precisely why there isn't an iPad app, if its not tied to a phone you don't get as much data hoovering goodness.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

I wish they get us an iPad version and an option to have more than 1 account on the app.

 

[RickDEGH]

None of these “useless” updates are available to me anyway. There’s always an update in the App Store with the same wording. No chat filter and so on for me still

 

[Ctrlos]

It actually used to cost money before META acquired it

Yeah, I remember the £1 annual fee!

 

[joeblow7777]

Yup, and we still can't figure out how the "rest of the world" got scammed into it! It is free because Zuck hoovers up your data and sells it! Let that sink in.

This is precisely why there isn't an iPad app, if its not tied to a phone you don't get as much data hoovering goodness.

Honestly, it's a fair price for a good service, and not an uncommon price in today's digital world. Whatsapp offers a lot of advantages over SMS, which pretty much makes it a necessity unless:

a. everyone you know has an iPhone/imesssage
b. everyone you know is local
c. you don't travel
d. you have a really good roaming/international service plan

Most people in the world don't meet those criteria. And most of the Americans saying that they won't use Whatsapp due to privacy concerns are using Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, various Google services, and TikTok!

 

[eqcwHAkNFVtGssA]

i'm waiting multiple account on iPhone

 

[Keebler]

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m hoping these updates have better stability. I’m not on Sequoia yet, but one OS down and WhatsApp rarely launches properly. Crashes upon launching. Yes I’ve deleted and reinstalled.

I’ll update it and see what happens.

As someone else mentioned, yes, the rest of the world uses WhatsApp so it’s about time this gets better