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WhatsApp is rolling out a series of significant upgrades to its calling experience, aiming to make group conversations more organized and interactive. The updates, which began rolling out globally in mid-August, include a new call scheduling feature, signaling a strategic shift for the messaging giant.
Introducing Scheduled Calls
Users can now schedule both individual and group calls directly within the app, a function inspired by popular video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. The new “Schedule Call” option is found in the Calls tab, where users can set a date and time and invite participants. All invitees receive a reminder notification before the call begins.
Once a call is scheduled, it appears in a list of upcoming calls in the Calls tab, complete with attendee information and a shareable link that can be added to personal calendars.
Interactive Tools for Better Engagement
To improve etiquette during larger group discussions, WhatsApp has introduced several interactive features:
- Raise hand: A “raise hand” function allows users to signal when they want to speak, helping to reduce interruptions.
- Emoji reactions: Participants can send emoji reactions in real-time, enabling non-verbal communication that doesn’t break the flow of the conversation.
- Improved management: Creators of call links will now be notified when someone joins the call, providing better oversight.
New Updates and What WhatsApp Hopes to Achieve
The new features push WhatsApp beyond its roots as a purely spontaneous chat app and position it to compete more directly with enterprise and professional communication tools. By adding scheduling and interactive functions, WhatsApp hopes to increase its utility for remote teams, event organizers, and other groups that require more structured communication.
The moves also reflect Meta’s pattern of incorporating popular features from rival platforms, with the goal of keeping users within its ecosystem. All new calling features are protected by WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy remains a top priority.
