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WhatsApp has finally caught up with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Apple Face Time and Google Meet and introduced a video call option from its desktop app for PCs and laptops.
Voice and video calls are nothing new to WhatsApp, but this functionality is no longer limited to smartphones, as video call apps have become the new norm in the pandemic era.
“Answering on a bigger screen makes it easier to work with colleagues, see your family more clearly on a bigger canvas, or free up your hands to move around a room while talking,” WhatsApp said in a statement announcing the new feature.
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The WhatsApp smartphone app allows group video calls with up to eight people and this will soon be available on the desktop app too – but the Facebook-owned company has not yet said when it’s likely to be enabled.
HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE WHATSAPP DESKTOP APP
The new app isn’t yet available for browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer, but it can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or Apple’s iTunes store. Make sure it’s the latest version – 64-bit for Windows and 10.13 for Apple or newer.
To make calls on your desktop, your smartphone needs to be on and connected to the internet, even though the call will be on your laptop or PC.
CLICK TO CALL
Making a voice or video call is as easy as clicking the phone icon in the top right corner of the chat window. All you need is an active internet connection, an internet-connected smartphone with WhatsApp and a PC or laptop with a microphone (for voice calls) and camera (for video calls).
Sources: Business Insider South Africa, Sky News
