New features for audio and video calls by WhatsApp

 WhatsApp reveals new upgrades and new features for audio and video calls

WhatsApp adds new features for audio and video calls, including participant selection and expanded video effects. The desktop calling experience is improved, and a new Typing Indicators feature shows who is typing in chats, enhancing user engagement. This new video effects for its video calls gives 10 options ranging from funky to hilarious. The joy of calls on WhatsApp isn’t limited to the fact that they’re free, assuming you are using your data allowance. It’s also that the calls have more features than regular phone calls. And the company has just unveiled other new video and audio features. The Meta owned personal messaging app informed about the new updates in a blogpost while also also stating that over 2 billion calls were made on the platform.

There are practical updates, such as selecting call participants from a group chat. “You call exactly who you want without disrupting the rest. Ideal for planning surprise parties or presents,” the company said. Then there are the improvements to video calls, with 10 effects to choose from to turn calls into something that looks more fun. These vary “from adding puppy ears, to taking you underwater, or handing you a microphone for karaoke.” Some of the important details are as follows:-

Improved calling experience on desktop

WhatsApp has made a few changes to improve the calling experience for desktop users. After the new changes, when WhatsApp desktop uses open the app and click on the calls tab, they will see everything they need to start a call, create a call link and even dial a number directly.

Call participants selection

WhatsApp now allows users to select specific participants while starting a group call. The new feature should come in handy particularly when planning surprise parties or present where there is a need to inform specific participants while maintaining a cloud of secrecy from others.

Video calls effects

After adding night mode and video call effects earlier this year, WhatsApp is now allowing users to select from an even wider range of effects like puppy ears, karaoke microphone and underwater effect. WhatsApp also promises that 1:1 and group video calls are now more reliable with the addition of higher resolution video that should deliver clearer picture quality.

Ever keen to go the extra mile, we have tested all new special effects. These are the most notable: Underwater is excellent, with the water sitting at about your eyeline and you can peep in and out of it as you like. You don't even have to hold your breath when you’re under the water line. Puppy ears is the cutest effect but there’s also Goof, which turned me into Carl Fredericksen, the old guy from Up!. Nervous squeezes your face to make you look frightened, Energy sees a green glow emanate from the back of your head, Tears makes big blue drops of water pop out of your eyes, and Star Windows makes little star-shaped versions of you float around. Microphone puts a radio mic in front of you and there’s also Sparkles and Nice Day. Like with Apple iMessage, you can also handle calls on your desktop, too. You can take a WhatsApp call on iMac if your iPhone is on the other side of the room. The new changes include improvements to desktop calls, too so that when you click the calls tab on the WhatsApp desktop app, you’ll see all the options you need to easily start a call, as well as creating a call link or just dialling a number.

WhatsApp also recently rolled out a new Typing Indicators feature with an aim to improve the real-time engagement in chats. Typing Indicators is the new visual cue which users will see when the other person is typing on WhatsApp, replacing the existing ‘Typing’ visual in personal chats and group conversations. After the latest update, users will be greeted with the ‘…’ cue at the bottom of their screen along with the profile picture of the person typing the message. The new feature is aimed at helping WhatsApp users identify who is typing a message quickly with the addition of profile pictures as a visual cue. The revamped Typing Indicators should especially come in handy during group chats as WhatsApp will add the profile picture of all the participants who are typing a new message, making it easier for the receiver to anticipate a new message and plan their reply accordingly.

Finally, there are also better-quality video calls for desktop and mobile, promising higher resolution and clearer picture for one-to-one and group calls. Altogether, the changes are aimed at making being in touch with your loved ones easier and more fun than ever. After all, more than 2 billion calls are made via WhatsApp every day. And no doubt the holidays will see a seasonal spike to that already huge number.