WhatsApp has unveiled a significant update to its video calling features, aiming to compete with the likes of Zoom and Google Meet. Let’s dive into the details of these enhancements.
Enhanced Screen Sharing: Previously, users could share their screens during video calls, but audio wasn’t included. This update rectifies that, allowing users to share their screens with sound, perfect for watching videos or presentations together.
More People, More Fun: WhatsApp has expanded the maximum number of participants in a video call to a whopping 32 across all devices. This is a big jump from the previous limits of 32 for mobile, 16 for Windows, and 8 for macOS.
Speaker in the Spotlight: To avoid confusion about who’s talking during large calls, WhatsApp has introduced a “speaker spotlight” feature. This automatically highlights the person speaking, making them prominent on everyone’s screen.
Improved Call Quality: WhatsApp has implemented the Meta Low Bitrate (MLow) codec, which promises better call reliability, especially for users with weak internet connections or older devices. This codec reportedly delivers double the audio quality of the prior Opus codec while consuming 10% less processing power. MLow is already used in Instagram and Messenger calls and is now being integrated into WhatsApp.
Availability: These exciting features will be gradually rolled out to all compatible WhatsApp users over the next few weeks.
With these improvements, WhatsApp is making a strong push to be a more viable option for larger video conferences, presentations, and even virtual watch parties. The increased participant limit, audio screen sharing, and speaker spotlight features aim to enhance the overall video calling experience for users.