Meta, through its WhatsApp application, has introduced a new voice call feature that targets larger groups seeking to interact through audio.
In the feature, a person can add up to 128 participants, down from the limit of 32 participants, as Meta aims to help members hold audio chats seamlessly.
According to Meta, the first contact listed will be the participant who added you to the voice call. In case you do not want to join, tap 'ignore', and the pop-up will disappear.
Group members not in the voice chat are also able to see the profiles of those in the voice chat from the chat header and the Calls tab.
The feature also allows one to instantly talk live with members of a group chat while still being able to share text messages in the group. Both can now be done simultaneously.
To start a voice chat, Open the group chat you want to start a voice chat with, then tap in the top right corner of the screen and then tap the 'start Voice Chat' icon. To leave the chat, just click the X symbol.
Once you start the voice chat, group members will receive a push notification to join instead of a call.
As one of the members in the group chat, you will be able to see who has joined the voice chat in a banner at the bottom of the screen.
Voice chats will end automatically once everyone has left the chat. They’ll also end if no one joins the first or last person in the chat for 60 minutes.
The voice call also uses your phone’s internet connection rather than your mobile SIM minutes. Charges may apply in case one is not connected to any source of internet.
WhatsApp new feature is set to be available for both Android and iOS-powered phones.
Voice calling lets you call your contacts using WhatsApp, Android, and iOS for free, even if they’re in another country.
