Because it is presently putting out a redesigned Windows version that includes support for 8 users’ video calls, WhatsApp has the potential to quickly become the next competitor of Zoom. In addition, users of the desktop version will now have the ability to host voice calls with as many as 32 participants simultaneously.
All of these capabilities have actually been available on both iOS and Android for quite some time. Meta has redoubled its efforts to bring the WhatsApp desktop client(opens in new tab) up to speed with the smartphone version. Further improvements were made behind the scenes to improve multi-device connection, and the user interface was updated to appear more like the mobile application. WhatsApp for Windows now has a faster connection time, and it also grants access to additional features like link stickers and previews.
When compared with Zoom, which allows for as many as 100 people to participate in a single video conference using its Basic subscription, this change might not appear to be much of an improvement. The business, on the other hand, has stated that it intends to expand the maximum number of participants that an app can support in a group call. So, it is not at all out of the realm of possibility that live conversations on WhatsApp might one day compete with the enormous numbers achieved by Zoom meetings. As can be seen with the introduction of the Groups feature, Meta is not at all intimidated by the prospect of enabling huge organizations on its platform.
Concerning Communities, earlier in the week, WhatsApp for mobile devices received an upgrade (starts in a new window) that makes it easier for users to manage the groups they belong to. Administrators now have the power to turn away contest participants. This is a rather insignificant but critically important adjustment that actually ought to have been made from the very beginning. When you check the name of a contact, you will also be able to see whether or not the pair of you are members of the same community.
About the near and distant future, Meta says that it has only recently released a new beta version for Smartphones and tablets and that it is currently working on a version for Mac desktops. A report released from WABetaInfo reveals that the most recent version of the Android beta (begins in a new window) contains a new option for polls that restricts participants to select only one option. The information was not particularly revealing. It’s a total mystery when it comes to macOS. Despite this, it may have something to do with the forthcoming “native application build with Mac Catalyst” (link opens in new tab), which is now in the process of being developed. We inquired further about it by contacting Meta. If we receive further information, we will incorporate it into our report.
