WhatsApp has introduced a novel functionality for real-time messaging, unveiling a fresh feature designed to facilitate voice communication within large groups while minimizing disruptions compared to conventional voice calls.
As per WhatsApp’s announcement, this innovative feature enables users to initiate a voice chat directly within a group chat, eliminating the need for an intrusive call that rings all participants’ phones.
With this latest addition, when a participant initiates a new Voice Chat, a notification appears within the chat in the form of an alert bubble. Those interested in participating in the voice conversation can simply tap the bubble to join.
This new feature offers users a user-friendly interface, granting them effective control over their voice conversations while concurrently allowing them to keep track of text messages within the group. Users can type messages in the chat without exiting the voice conversation since the control interface remains visible at the top of the phone screen, overlaying the group chat interface. Consequently, both interfaces are displayed simultaneously.
In contrast to the existing setup for voice calls, where users need to hide the call interface to switch to the group chat screen and start typing, this new feature streamlines the user experience.
The feature also incorporates straightforward buttons for muting, ending the call, and sending text messages within the group chat. WhatsApp has commenced the global rollout of this feature to a substantial number of users, with more users set to receive it in the upcoming weeks. The initial release will be for group chats containing 33 participants or more.
WhatsApp underscores that voice conversations facilitated by the new feature are end-to-end encrypted by default, ensuring secure and private communication.
It’s important to highlight that this new feature positions WhatsApp to compete with various voice communication methods offered by rival services such as Telegram, Discord, and Slack.
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