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Report: WhatsApp is bringing call functionality to desktop, web clients
- WhatsApp’s desktop and web clients could soon offer voice and video call support.
- The forthcoming feature will reportedly also allow group calls, too.
WhatsApp has long let users place calls on mobile. Now, call support could soon arrive on WhatsApp’s web and desktop clients.
According to a report by WhatsApp tipster WABetaInfo, the ability for users to conduct voice and video chat beyond the phone app is currently in development.
Screenshots of a future WhatsApp web build suggest a pop-up will be displayed with the option to decline or accept pending calls. It’s unclear if pending video calls will preview the users’ video feeds like the phone app. An in-call pop-up could also be offered, allowing callers to mute an ongoing call or switch from voice to video.
Group voice and video calls are also supported but will likely have to adhere to the eight-person limit set across WhatsApp.
Call support takes WhatsApp’s web and desktop clients one step closer to independence from their smartphone tethers. While users currently need to connect to these clients through their smartphones, the company is still reportedly working on linked device login support. This will allow users to log in to WhatsApp from multiple devices. It’s unclear when that feature will be available.
But, when both features go live, WhatsApp users in the future may be able to use the app as a standalone non-corporate alternative to Skype and Zoom on the desktop without the need to log in or connect through their mobile devices.
It’s unclear when WhatsApp will flick the switch on both features, but WABetaInfo believes web and desktop call support could be ready “soon.”