WhatsApp's new in-app dialer

 WhatsApp introduces a new in-app dialler for Calling Convenience to beta testers 

WhatsApp tests exciting in-app dialler feature for easy calling. The new in-app dialler reportedly appears as a floating action button (FAB) in the Calls tab on WhatsApp for Android. The new in-app dialler was reportedly spotted in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.24.13.17. Following are the some of the important points:-

WhatsApp is rolling out an in-app dialler to select beta testers, allowing users to make calls directly from the app without saving contact numbers.

The feature is reported in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.24.13.17

The new dialler is accessible through a floating call action button in the Calls tab.

This in-app dialler is part of WhatsApp’s continuous efforts to enhance its platform. The company is also testing other features.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular and widely used messaging apps, particularly among Android users. Yet, a long-standing issue with the platform has been the inability to make calls from the app without first saving contact numbers to the address book. WhatsApp is said to be also working on several new features for the Android platform. According to a reports, one of the features introduced in the latest WhatsApp for Android beta app update is a new in-app dialler. This feature is speculated to make WhatsApp calling convenient by allowing users to make calls directly from the app, without having to switch to the system dialler and save the contact on the Android smartphone. WhatsApp is finally introducing an in-app dialler to select beta testers. 

According to reports available, the new in-app dialler may appear as a floating action button (FAB) in the Calls tab. With it, users can take advantage of WhatsApp calling, even to numbers which aren't saved on the smartphone. This feature is said to have been spotted in the WhatsApp for Android beta app version Android 2.24.13.17. A few users are now able to access a floating call action button within the Calls tab. This button lets users dial an unsaved number through the app. Users will also be able to save this unsaved number as a new contact or add it to an existing contact card. Alternatively, users can also choose to send a message instead of making a call after dialling the number, a messaging shortcut has been added to the in-app dialler screen to facilitate this. This is currently a limited rollout and only available to select beta testers with update version 2.24.13.17.

Apart from calling, users may be able to save the contact from the dialler to the smartphone's address book, either as a new contact or an addition to an existing one. Furthermore, a messaging option is also said to be present for those who initially wanted to call someone but changed their mind and now wish to send them a WhatsApp message. In comparison to similar apps like FaceTime, which allow users to initiate calls by entering a name, email address or contact number, WhatsApp requires its users to manually save numbers to their address book or open a chat with the contact to initiate a call. 

Not only was this process time-consuming and cumbersome, but it also posed security concerns. The reason why it’s a security concern is because numbers stored in the address book would be privy to the user’s last seen status, profile picture and other personal details if their WhatsApp profile visibility settings allowed everyone in their contact list to see this information. This is only one of the many new features that WhatsApp is currently testing. Version 2.24.12.2, for instance, rolled out a redesigned preview feature for WhatsApp’s status updates to some beta testers. This update displays status stories in a horizontal layout, allowing users to view a status without having to open it.

The good news is that with this update, WhatsApp has added an additional layer of convenience and privacy to users’s calling experience. What’s more, this feature also lets you maintain a clutter-free address book. It is speculated to also offer the functionality to check whether a given number is registered on WhatsApp. The feature tracker suggested that the new in-app dialler is available to select users who are enrolled in the Google Play Beta program as beta testers of the WhatsApp for Android app.