WhatsApp is working on a new feature that would allow people without a WhatsApp account to join voice and video calls through a web link, according to a report by WhatsApp-focused website WABetaInfo.
The feature, which is currently under development, would allow guests to join a call through a secure link without installing the WhatsApp application or creating an account. It is not yet available for testing.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp users will be able to create a call link from the Calls tab, select the type of call and share the link with another person.
Recipients who do not have a WhatsApp account will be able to open the link in a browser and join the call through WhatsApp Web as guests.
The host will have to manually approve each guest before they can enter the call, giving the person who created the call control over who joins.
The planned feature builds on WhatsApp’s existing guest chat system, which allows people without accounts to join certain conversations through a secure web link. WhatsApp has been rolling out guest chats, with conversations protected by end-to-end encryption.
WABetaInfo reported that guest calls would use similar technology. A guest’s browser session would generate a unique identifier that would be used to create an encryption key, allowing calls to remain end-to-end encrypted.
The feature would further expand WhatsApp’s web-based communication options. Earlier this year, WhatsApp began rolling out voice and video calls on its web client, allowing users with accounts to make calls directly through a browser without installing the desktop application.
However, WhatsApp has not announced a public release date for guest calls, and the feature remains in development.
Source: WABetaInfo
