WhatsApp rolls out web calling, call forwarding between devices and more

WhatsApp announced a handful of improvements for group calling on the encrypted platform, including seamless call transfers between devices and a new web calling feature.

It is now possible to make and receive audio and video calls, including individual and group calls, directly from WhatsApp Web. The new browser-based service provides access to common features available on other devices, such as screen sharing, reactions and a dedicated Calls tab with a user’s complete call history.

WhatsApp claims that the end-to-end encrypted web service will make it easier to make a call without leaving your browser, and it should be especially popular with anyone using a work laptop that doesn’t allow app downloads.

The latest rollout also brings call forwarding, allowing users to move an active group call from one device to another without hanging up.

Then there’s the new Waiting Room, which appears when creating a WhatsApp call link with the “Require approval to join” option enabled. Attendees now enter the waiting room first until the host is ready to let them in.

Two final additions complete this update: QuickHD allows users to enjoy high-definition video immediately from the first seconds of the call, while Noise Cancellation removes background noise so that voices sound clearer, even in noisy or busy environments.

WhatsApp says the suite of new features is being rolled out gradually and will be “available to everyone soon.”