WhatsApp is releasing a fresh feature that allows large groups to have voice chats without causing too much disturbance. Unlike group calls that ring every member’s phone, voice chats start quietly with a chat bubble you can tap to join.

With this new feature, you can talk to anyone who joins the chat while still messaging those who don’t participate. You have the option to unmute, hang up, or message the group without leaving the voice chat by using the call controls at the top of the chat.

The rollout of voice chats will happen globally over the next few weeks, starting with groups of 33 or more people. WhatsApp emphasizes that voice chats are protected with strong encryption to ensure privacy.

Voice chats on WhatsApp work similarly to features on other platforms like Discord, Telegram, and Slack, enabling large groups to connect through spoken conversations.

The introduction of this feature wasn’t unexpected, as WABetaInfo reported its testing in beta back in August.

This announcement comes as WhatsApp continues to add new features to its platform. Recently, they introduced the ability to use two accounts simultaneously and added passkey support for Android. They also launched the “Flows” feature, enhancing the shopping experience by allowing users to perform tasks like selecting flight seats or booking appointments without leaving the app.

The launch follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s revelation during the Q3 earnings call that users and businesses are engaging over 600 million times per day across their platforms. The WhatsApp Business platform has played a significant role in the company’s revenue growth, with Q3 earnings reaching $293 million, a 53% increase compared to the previous year.

Source: www.techcrunch.com