📷 Image Credits: CNBCTV18
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, is set to introduce three new features to its video calling functionality in order to enhance user experience. These features, recently discovered in the beta version, include screen sharing during video calls, support for up to 32 people on video calls, and Speaker Spotlight. The additions aim to make WhatsApp’s video calls more competitive with services like FaceTime.
WhatsApp’s decision to introduce screen sharing with audio support is a significant enhancement to the video calling experience. Previously, when users shared their device’s screen on a video call, only video was shared, leaving out any audio. With this new feature, WhatsApp now allows users to share both video and audio, enabling them to watch videos together with friends during calls.
Moreover, the increase in the participant limit for video calls on WhatsApp is another notable update. Previously, the platform allowed up to 32 participants on mobile devices, but users on Windows and macOS were limited to 16 and 8 participants, respectively. Now, with the updated version, all devices support adding up to 32 people to a single video call, aligning WhatsApp with services like FaceTime.
Another feature, Speaker Spotlight, highlights the person speaking during a video call by making their video feed appear first in the carousel of video feeds with a white outline. This feature aims to improve the overall engagement and communication quality during group video calls.
In addition, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has introduced the Meta Low Bitrate (MLow) codec to enhance call reliability and quality. This codec improves noise and echo cancellation, offers higher resolution video on faster connections, and provides crisper audio even in low network conditions or with older devices.
Overall, these new features are expected to roll out to users over the next few weeks, providing an enhanced and competitive video calling experience on WhatsApp.
