WhatsApp is a great way for friends, family, and colleagues to communicate with one another through online communication and on a global scale. According to demandsage.com in their article Whatsapp Statistics 2022, approximately 2 billion monthly active users are on the app making it the largest app for communication in the world. The platform has now become the world’s primary source of online communication and therefore Meta this year has been cautious about their updates on the app – why would you change something that already works well?
32-person calls
The updates, rather than changes, have included maximising the WhatsApp calls to their full potential. From creating calls between just two people, you are now able to create calls 32-person calls on video or voice call, four times the previous amount.
This not only helps with organising meetings but is great for large groups of friends or family to connect with one another without having to go onto external apps such as Zoom. Meta has ensured WhatsApp caters to everyone and ensures everyone’s lives are made easier with these small, yet convenient updates.
Message or mute participants
Another function that has been updated on WhatsApp is being able to long press on a participant, enlarging the video or audio feed, and allowing you to mute or message them separately while keeping the call going.
If you are an influencer, content creator, or just calling friends to catch up in a group call, you don’t have to end the conversation just to send someone a message, but simply message them individually while still on the call. The host has the power to either message or mute participants in order for there to be organisation on the WhatsApp call, making it more organised and clearer. No one likes talking over one another!
Call links
Similar to the Zoom app, WhatsApp now allows you to Create a call link meaning you are able to create last-minute calls or plan one ahead by inviting people to a group call through the “call link.” This makes it easier than having to do it on the day and missing people from the call. A call link creates much more ease in inviting people to join fast and efficiently without any problems and is a clear button on WhatsApp to use.
In an article by ringba.com titled 3 Benefits of Using Click-to-Click Links, they say Click-To-Call Links lead to more calls, increase conversions and make the customer experience easier. Not only does it benefit the user, but also increases more users downloading the app, benefitting Meta.
Seamless calling experience
In addition to the above-updated features, there are other functional changes that have been made to enhance user experience. Colour waveforms are used if a caller’s video is off as a way for everyone to see who is talking. As the caller begins to talk, the coloured wave will begin to move just like an audio speaker to make it easier to see who is communicating.
If you’re wondering who has joined the call late and doesn’t have time to keep scrolling through the list of 32 people, don’t worry! There are in-call banner notifications to see if someone new has joined in on the call and in the group.
Last but not least, there is a picture in picture on iOS which is now in beta testing and rolling out in 2023. The picture in the picture means you can multitask while on a call thanks to a minimised in-call video screen.
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