WhatsApp is releasing the voice and video calling feature on the desktop app. The messaging app says that calling will be available in both portrait and landscape orientation on the desktop app.- By Sharon Maina
Whatsapp said it has noted a significant increase in people calling one another on WhatsApp often for long conversations especially throughout last year during the pandemic.
“With so many people still apart from their loved ones, and adjusting to new ways of working, we want conversations on WhatsApp to feel as close to in-person as possible,” a statement from the whatsapp company read.
“To make desktop calling more useful, we made sure it works seamlessly for both portrait and landscape orientation appears in a resizable standalone window on your computer screen, and is set to be always on top so you never lose your video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows.” The whatsapp company added.
It also confirmed that similar to the mobile app, voice and video calls on the desktop app will also be end-to-end encrypted. Meaning WhatsApp can’t hear or see them, whether you call from your phone or your computer. Though group calls have to be made on mobile devices, whatsapp have confirmed to expand and be able to offer group calls in future.
What one needs in order to place a WhatsApp audio or video call via the desktop app is: an audio output device and microphone for voice and video calls, a camera for video calls, an active internet connection on your computer and phone.
The call won’t go through your phone, but it needs to be online to establish the call and to grant WhatsApp permission to access your computer’s microphone and camera.
WhatsApp needs access to your computer’s microphone for calls and a camera for video calls.
