New images show off WhatsApp's long anticipated voice calling feature
For some time now, the Facebook-owned WhatsApp Messenger has been teasing an upcoming voice calling feature, and a beta version of the app containing voice calling is already in the hands of certain users. Now, images of WhatsApp’s voice calling feature running in the iOS version of the app have hit the Web, providing iPhone owners with an idea of how voice calling will look when it reaches Apple’s handset.
The pictures, via iPhone Italia, are included above and below. As you can see, voice chat is incorporated alongside WhatsApp Messenger’s instant messaging (IM) interface, allowing users to initiate calls and view a call log. Once a call has been initiated, users can terminate the call, set a reminder to follow up a call, send a message, mute the call, or broadcast the call to the built-in speaker. In essence, WhatsApp’s voice calling feature replicates the iOS Phone app.
Take a look:
WhatsApp Messenger’s voice calling feature.
At present, WhatsApp boasts some 700 million users worldwide. It provides a solid, cross-platform IM service for iPhone owners like me who have friends still sitting in the Android OS camp. But it’s also got a huge user base overseas, too, where the Google-made OS still dominates.
Back in October 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp Messenger for a massive $19 billion. Since, we’ve seen some minor improvements made to the iPhone application, though we’re still crucially missing iPad support or a useable Web client. Voice calling for iOS users, however, is a step in the right direction.
You can download WhatsApp Messenger free of charge on the App Store, and it’s optimized for the iPhone only.
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