Popular instant messaging app WhatsApp has started rolling out group video calling and voice calls in a large scale on WhatsApp for Android beta version. The features can now be accessed from the latest beta update with version number v2.18.189 or v2.18.192. The features were rolled out in May for the first time when some users reportedly got these features.
It has also been reported that these features have been rolled out on Windows phone too. However since WhatsApp is yet to officially announce the availability of the group calling and voice calling features for Windows phone, it cannot be taken for granted as of now. The company is likely to make an announcement in this regard shortly.
The group calling and voice calling functionality can be accessed by all users using the above mentioned two versions of Android beta. To check out the new features, you need to make a voice or video call to one of your WhatsApp contacts first. Once the call gets connected, an Add Person icon will get visible on the top right corner of the app. Now, if another user is also added, his/her name will appear along with the second person separated by a comma. As the feature is currently available in the beta format, users who want to access it will have to register for the Google Play WhatsApp beta program or download any of the two beta versions from a trusted third party site.
The feature has also been made available for iPhone users as well. While iOS users will get the ability to add a person or receive an invitation, the ability to add other persons is still not available and is likely to be rolled out in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a tweet from WABetaInfo that features a bundled screenshot claimed that the group video calling and voice calling feature has been rolled out on Windows phone as well. Although the rollout is being implemented in patches so it will take a few days for all the Windows phone users to receive the new feature.