Group Voice, Video Calls Coming Soon To WhatsApp

WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging services, is ready to launch another set of features in its latest beta version for Android devices. The messaging platform will soon be releasing new features such as group video and voice calling for the users.

According to WABetaInfo, a site that tests new WhatsApp features, WhatsApp has already begun testing the new feature internally. The site also claims, while there are multiple references to group calling, there is only a single mention of group video calls for the platform. “There are a lot of hidden references about group voice calls, but there is only one reference to group video calls. So group video calls are partially confirmed at the moment,” the website added.

Apart from the group calling features, WhatsApp will also be giving more power to group administrators. Users and admins will now be able to choose if their participants can modify the subject, icon or description of the group. This new update was submitted through the Google Play Beta Programme in the 2.17.387 version of the app. According to the WhatsApp testing group, the iPhone app will also soon give group admins the power to remove a greater number of participants from a group at once. WABetaInfo has even stated the company is also testing an Unsend and Delete For Everyone feature. With this update, selected messages will be deleted on other phones as well, if the other users are also using the latest version of WhatsApp.

The Facebook owned messaging platform also introduced a new feature last week, which allows users to share their live locations for a certain period of time. Equipped with end to end encryption, the new Live Location feature lets all users track the locations of their friends and family and choose between various time frames for the live tracking to last.

While the group calling feature is the latest in a long list of updates, parent company Facebook has already launched a similar feature on its messaging platform Facebook Messenger. The social media giant’s enterprise focused messaging and social networking service Workplace also has almost identical features which supports voice and video calling, screen sharing and customized push notifications.