WhatsApp has been spotted testing a video and voice call feature on the web since last year, but the company had yet to avail it to everyone. Since October, the feature has been available in the closed beta channel, which only accommodates a minute portion of the two billion-plus users.
It is now reported that the feature is slowly rolling out to more users. But there’s a big catch. A screenshot shared on Twitter by an Argentina-based user shows beta labels on both the video and audio call buttons.
WABetaInfo, common WhatsApp sleuths who rip the messaging app apart to uncover new features in the development channel, says the feature is still in beta. So, regrettably, it will only be available to a selected few as was the case in December.
“WhatsApp is rolling out beta calls for specific users but unfortunately, being a beta feature, it’s available for very few people. We hope you’re lucky but, if it doesn’t, don’t worry: every day more users receive that activation and, at present, WhatsApp Desktop has a higher priority,” WAbetaInfo wrote in a blog post.
At this point, it seems we are still miles away from the official rollout of the calling features on the web. But progress is being made, and hopefully, sooner than later, everyone will be able to make voice and shoddy video calls from their laptop’s webcam.
WhatsApp introduced the ability to make voice and video calls in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and to date, the web version has been missing out on the feature.
It quite makes sense in some way, though, as you can only use WhatsApp on smartphones – and lately, KaiOS-powered feature phones. The web version mirrors the mobile app, and one must always be connected to the internet on the phone for it to work.
WABetainfo has also tipped on how the respective calling features will work and look on the web in several leaks shared last year.
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