WhatsApp Introduces Ability to Join and Leave Group Voice Calls
WhatsApp introduced several updates last year to enhance the user experience of sending voice messages. Now, the messaging app has launched a beta version of voice chats, allowing for ongoing group audio conversations. Initially referred to as audio chats, this feature was first discovered earlier this year, although limited information was available at the time.
Although it sounds similar, this update isn’t exactly the same as starting a group call, and gives a much more discord feel than when you normally call your friends. Everyone who received the update should see a waveform symbol in the upper right corner of the group chat. Pressing the icon will start a group voice chat and say that the voice chat is open with a microphone to the left of it and a red X to the right of it. Everyone else in the group will receive a push notification, like any other message, instead of their phone ringing. They’ll see a banner at the top of the chat screen telling them how many people are currently chatting and giving them the option to connect.
Voice chats are protected by end-to-end encryption, just like all other sent messages, and they also turn off if no one has been active on them for an hour. WhatsApp voice chat seems to be only available in beta for Android users right now, but it is said to be rolling out to more people in the coming days.
