WhatsApp calling gets major update; call scheduling, reactions now available

WhatsApp has introduced new features allowing users to schedule group calls and invite them to join in advance, the company said in a blog post.

The move is aimed at making the platform more interactive and planned, catering to both personal and professional use, protected by end-to-end encryption.

How does it work?

• Press the + button in your Calls tab
• Click on the Schedule call option
• Invite people or groups you want to schedule the call with
• Attendees will receive a reminder notification before the call begins

Additionally, users can manage all the upcoming calls in the same tab alongside a list of attendees and call links. The individual who generates the call link will also receive notifications when someone joins.

Personalisation weighs in

In addition to scheduling calls, users can also react in multiple ways to express themselves on group calls, such as the ‘raise hand’ option.

The development comes after the Meta-backed messaging platform unveiled ‘Message Summaries’ in late June, integrating MetaAI capabilities to generate private summaries for chats so that users get an idea of what is happening before reading the details in the unread messages.

As per the report by AFP, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company is also planning to roll out three new monetisation features exclusively within its Updates tab, i.e., paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels in its Discovery directory, and ads within Status.

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