WhatsApp released a new tweak that allows users to join an ongoing group video call — you don’t need to be the initiator of the group call, but an invitation from any of the group members is required.
According to the short message app blog post,⁵ this feature serves as a means for WhatsApp users to practice their free will to opt-in and out from an ongoing video call.
This tweak WhatsApp is introducing is expected to rival the likes of Zoom that allows users to join an ongoing call.
Now, WhatsApp groups have something interesting to use especially when an important meeting is hosted, an invited member can join and opt-out at will.
The short message app designed this feature as a simple interface — on your screen, you would notice an information window that displays invited members, as well as members currently on the call.
For context, the WhatsApp concept depicts users can choose to join the group video call later if the timing is not right by them, rather having the red button as the only option.
Understandably, users relate differently to circumstances as well as WhatsApping habit are diverse according to its users — the new WhatsApp seems comfortable whereby a group video call can continue until certain members have available time to opt-in.
Remember, Zoom came to the limelight with this feature in 2020 and its video chat platform is more flexible even after the pandemic has subsided.
WhatsApp has joined the moving train and it is expected to be better than the pioneer of this feature — without further ado, end-to-end encryption is WhatsApp’s focus.
The short message app has reportedly rolled out a feature that allows multiple gadgets to connect to a single account — as long as your smartphone is dead, you can still connect to WhatsApp via your details which depicts you can never miss a group video call.