Whatsapp says it is rolling out a new feature that would allow users to share links to a call, as it also plans to increase the call session users to 32.
The Call Links feature will start appearing on WhatsApp this week and can be accessed through a banner at the top of the Calls tab. WhatsApp users who want to try the Call Link feature will need the latest version of the app, which can be updated through the app store.
Before now, when a WhatsApp call starts, the host or any participant can add other people to the call from their contacts. With Call Links on WhatsApp, users can simply share the link to join the video or audio call on WhatsApp.
This is a more convenient way to invite other participants to join a WhatsApp call. The host of the call or any other member can simply share the link with another person via direct message. The recipient of the link can now choose whether to join the call or not.
Mr Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, while announcing the feature on Facebook, said WhatsApp users will be able to share a link to a call with “a single tap.”
The ability to share a call link with up to 32 users was teased in April during the announcement of another upcoming feature, WhatsApp Communities.
The expanded call capacity sets up WhatsApp as a competitor for Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. These rival offerings have a far greater caller capacity (100 for Google and Microsoft Teams and 300 for Zoom).
However, they include restrictions like call duration for free accounts and might not be the first choice for the billions of people already chatting for free on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp did not mention any restrictions on call duration, which could place it as one of the best free video calling applications for smaller teams and personal networks once the feature is widely available.
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