WhatsApp’s desktop app for Mac and PC today receives voice and video calls, the company said, offering end-to-end encrypted calls to other WhatsApp users on computers and mobile devices.
Voice and video calling isn’t a new idea for WhatsApp: mobile apps for Android and iOS already offer the functionality, and WhatsApp started rolling out the desktop calling feature to a small group of users at the end of this year. Last year. But today’s launch means the feature is now available to all WhatsApp users on the desktop, making calling a more ubiquitous feature on all WhatsApp devices.
And like the existing video call feature, the new office call promises the same end-to-end encryption – meaning WhatsApp and Facebook can’t see or hear your calls.
The main missing feature is that, at least to begin with, the desktop app will only support individual calls, not group calls. WhatsApp promises to expand to include support for group voice and video calls down the line, although it has not said when that will happen.
To use the new video calling feature, you will need to set up the WhatsApp desktop app on Mac or PC, which requires that you are already a WhatsApp mobile user. Once you install the app on your computer, users will scan a QR code to log into the desktop app, after which they will be able to use the desktop version of WhatsApp with their usual account.