WhatsApp Adds 1-To-1 Voice And Video Calls To Desktop

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WhatsApp is adding a 1-to-1 voice and video call feature to WhatsApp on desktop. Group calls could follow soon.

Just like on the mobile app, voice and video calls from WhatsApp desktop will be end-to-end encrypted.

WhatsApp explained that it chose to start with one-to-one calls on desktop in order to ensure it delivers “a reliable, high-quality experience” before expanding the feature to include group voice and video calls.

The company also said in a blog post that it has seen a significant increase in the number and length of audio and video calls from its mobile app. Just on last New Year’s Eve, the app supported some 1.4 billion calls. There is no doubt this motivated them to allow calls to be made via the desktop app too.

“Answering on a bigger screen makes it easier to work with colleagues, see your family more clearly on a bigger canvas or free up your hands to move around a room while talking. To make desktop calling more useful, we made sure it works seamlessly for both portrait and landscape orientation appears in a resizable standalone window on your computer screen, and is set to be always on top so you never lose your video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows.”