WhatsApp Launches New Voice Chats For Large Groups

WhatsApp is preparing to launch a new voice chat feature for large groups of users, which is reminiscent of similar features in Discord. This feature will allow users to join voice conversations at any time or stay in the chat while sending text messages.

The new feature is designed to reduce the distraction of group call participants from direct communication: voice chats start quietly, without distracting beeps, with a bubble appearing in the chat. By clicking the bubble, a new participant can join the chat. The company expects to soon begin distributing voice chats to large groups of 33 people or more. The company specifically noted that by default, voice chats are protected by end-to-end encryption.

This functionality will provide the ability to communicate by voice with those group members who can join the call, while those who are currently not ready to carry on a conversation by voice can continue to correspond. The user can quickly mute, hang up, or send a message to the entire group without leaving the voice chat by tapping the call controls at the top of the chat. Essentially, voice chats in WhatsApp work the same way as similar features in Discord, Telegram and Slack: they allow groups of people to communicate in a conversational chat mode.

Previously, the messenger began testing user registration via email, as well as a feature that allows users to switch between two accounts on one device.