New Delhi: WhatsApp on Monday added a new feature to the app that allows users to join a group video or voice call after it has started and was missed initially. This will help users join a group call even if they initially miss a call when their phone rings. The update also brings an easy way to let you drop-off and rejoin a group WhatsApp call — as long as the call is still ongoing. The joinable calls feature makes it possible for people to join group calls when they can by simply going to the app’s ‘Calls’ tab. Until now, The Facebook-owned company did not provide its user with an option to join a group call, and participants already present in an active call could only add members during an ongoing voice or video call on the platform.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement about the new feature in the WhatsApp messenger and wrote, “Launching joinable calls on WhatsApp today. Now if you’re added to a group call or if you miss one, you can join in anytime.”
The new update of joinable calls will reduce the burden of answering a group call as soon as it starts and will help bring the spontaneity and ease of in-person conversations to group calling on WhatsApp, the messaging service company said in a blog post.
The blog post read, “As the popularity of group calls continues to grow, we’ve been working to improve the experience for our users – while of course still providing the security and privacy of end-to-end encryption. Today we’re introducing the ability to join a group call, even after it’s started. Some of the best conversations happen when you least expect it. Now, if someone in your group misses a call when the phone rings, they can still join whenever they like. You can also drop-off and re-join so long as the call is still ongoing.”
The company further added, “We’ve also created a call info screen so you can see who is already on the call, and who has been invited but not yet joined. And, if you hit ‘ignore’ you can join later from the calls tab in WhatsApp. Joinable calls are rolling out from today and we hope people can start to make the most of the new experience.”
Here’s how you can Join an incoming group video call:
- You’ll receive a notification when someone invites you to join a group video call.
- If you can’t join, tap Ignore. To open the call info screen, tap Join.
- From the call menu, you can preview the call participants and other invitees.
- Tap Join to join the call.
- While on the call, tap Open
- Tap Add participant to add more contacts to the call.
- Tap RING to send a notification to people who’ve already been invited.
Here’s how you can Join a missed group video call
- Open WhatsApp, then tap the CALLS tab.
- If the call is ongoing, tap the call you’d like to join. This will open the call info screen.
- From the call menu, tap Join.