WhatsApp desktop app for PC and Mac is getting video and voice calling features today, the company announced, offering end-to-end encrypted calls to other WhatsApp users on both computers and mobile devices.
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WhatsApp has always had Voice and video calling on mobile both on Android and iOS and it had started to roll out the desktop to a small group of users at the end of last year. But today’s launch means that the feature is now available to all WhatsApp users on desktop, making calling a more ubiquitous feature across all WhatsApp devices.
According to WhatsApp blog, “Voice and video calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, so WhatsApp can’t hear or see them, whether you call from your phone or your computer. We’re starting with one-to-one calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we make sure we can give you a reliable and high-quality experience. We will be expanding this feature to include group voice and video calls in the future.“
Unlike Zoom or Google, the biggest missing feature on WhatsApp web is the last of Group calling support. WhatsApp does promise that it’ll be expanding to include support for group voice and video calls down the line, although it hasn’t said when that will be.
To use the new video calling feature, you’ll have to set up the WhatsApp desktop app on either Mac or PC, which requires that you already be a WhatsApp user on mobile. Once you’ve installed the app on your computer, users will then scan a QR code to log in on the desktop app, after which they’ll be able to use the desktop version of WhatsApp with their usual account.
