A couple of weeks back, WhatsApp introduced a voice calling feature to its immensely popular messaging app, but only for all the Android users. But the long wait is now finally over because this feature is now being officially introduced to all the iOS mobile phones 🙂 :). It has been reported that an updated version for the iOS app store, iTunes Store, is available for download. The update mentions that users will very soon have a voice calling feature that will allow them to make calls to anyone that uses WhatsApp absolutely free of cost . It goes without saying that the app will use your data plan to make the calls. If you update your WhatsApp, you might not yet be able to make calls because the feature is being gradually introduced “WhatsApp Calling is rolling out slowly over the next several weeks”.
Along with the calling update, WhatsApp has given its iOS app some other big updates. One of them is that now both the iOS 8 and WhatsApp work smoothly together to share videos, photographs, links and other information just by simply using the inbuilt share button. Also, a camera button has been provided so that you can just tap the camera button and the app instantly shifts to your phone’s camera to take and share photographs. Apart from this, you can now also send more than one video at a time. But in all honesty these little updates are very minor when you compare them to the voice calling feature. So go ahead and download the update but maintain some patience for the calling feature to be added to your WhatsApp account.
We assume that the voice calling will be the same as that of Android, meaning that the feature will work using your running data connection (2G or 3G) or Wi-Fi. In India, WhatsApp has become an integral part of daily life, it has almost completely replaced the more tradition way of messaging, i.e. SMS. The calling option will certainly make the app more appealing particularly for those that have relatives, friends or business partners in other countries because there will be no calling charges. But mind you the feature is still in its nascent phase, therefore some glitches are to be expected.
So far those that have used WhatsApp’s calling feature are not too impressed due to call latency. This is a major drawback, because no one has the patience or time to waste. Now just image you have to get some details and the person that has those details gives out that information details via WhatsApp; you will be left waiting for a reply. People just do not have the time to wait for an answer, hence they prefer calling them directly through the services of their telecom – carrier. Not only this there is another big glitch with the Android version, calls automatically drop while you are calling or talking. And the last big fault that needs to be addressed at the earliest by the WhatsApp team is the echo of the voice that you hear when calling.
