WhatsApp to Let Users Join Calls Without an Account

Meta-owned popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp is bringing an unusual new feature for its users. With the new facility, anyone will be able to join voice or video calls on WhatsApp without having a WhatsApp account or even having the app installed on their smartphone.

The information was reported by technology magazine and tracking website WABetaInfo.

The new technology, called “Guest Calling,” will allow anyone to join a call directly through a web browser. Until now, joining a WhatsApp call required both an account and the WhatsApp app installed on the phone.

How the New System Will Work

Under the new system, a WhatsApp user will be able to create a dedicated call link from the “Calls” tab of the app. The user can choose in advance whether the call will be voice-only or a video call and then share the link with others through any medium.

A person without a WhatsApp account can simply click the link using any browser on a computer or mobile device. The WhatsApp Web calling screen will then appear, allowing the person to join the conversation directly as a guest without downloading the app.

Security and Call Management

Security and overall user control have been given priority to prevent unwanted participants from joining calls. Simply receiving a link will not allow someone to enter a call directly. Each guest’s request to join will first be sent to the host, and the guest will be able to join only after the host manually approves the request.

Like regular WhatsApp calls, guest calls will also be protected by end-to-end encryption, preventing unauthorized parties from eavesdropping on conversations. In addition, during a call, the host will have full control to remove any participant at any time or end the call for everyone with a single click.

The technology is currently in the early development stage and has not yet been made available to beta testers. However, the Guest Calling feature is expected to be rolled out to general users worldwide through a new update very soon.

//DBTech/BMT/OR//