<p>Everyone’s default mobile messaging platform, WhatsApp just added the much-awaited video-calling feature. Now, here’s why this could be a big game-changer in an already flooded video space: WhatsApp’s stupendous 160 million active users in India, the highest in the world.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In its blog, WhatsApp announced that the new feature will be available across Android, iPhone and Windows phone devices. This is why it followed the Group Chat and voice-calling features with video: “Sometimes voice and text just aren’t enough.<br /><br /> There’s no substitute for watching your grandchild take her first steps, or seeing your daughter’s face while she’s studying abroad.”<br /><br />The feature will be rolled out over the next few days. Driving up its use in India will be the smartphone penetration that stands at an all-time high, and the intense data war. Experts say competition will drive down 3G and 4G data rates, sparking high use of the data-hungry video-calling feature.<br /><br />So, how does one make a video call? Once the feature is fully rolled out, the WhatsApp app will have to be updated. A video icon will appear close to the phone call symbol. Tapping the icon will initiate the video call, provided the receiver too has an updated version of the app. <br /><br />The feature is currently limited to individual calls and not groups. Its large user base gives WhatsApp video-calls an edge over other competing messaging platforms. <br /><br />Microsoft’s Skype, Apple’s FaceTime and the recently launched Google Duo are all active in the video space. <br /><br />But what about video call-drops due to inconsistent data links? WhatsApp’s Head of Business, Neeraj Arora contended that like the voice calls, video calls will be dynamic. “Depending on the quality of network, the video will adjust accordingly.<br /><br /> Like text and voice calling, video calls will also be encrypted end-to-end to ensure safety and privacy of its users,” he explained.<br /><br />Facebook, which has its own video-calling messenger service, had acquired WhatsApp for an unprecedented $19 billion in 2014. Earlier this year, tech giant Google had launched Allo (messaging app) and Duo (video-calling app).<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Everyone’s default mobile messaging platform, WhatsApp just added the much-awaited video-calling feature. Now, here’s why this could be a big game-changer in an already flooded video space: WhatsApp’s stupendous 160 million active users in India, the highest in the world.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In its blog, WhatsApp announced that the new feature will be available across Android, iPhone and Windows phone devices. This is why it followed the Group Chat and voice-calling features with video: “Sometimes voice and text just aren’t enough.<br /><br /> There’s no substitute for watching your grandchild take her first steps, or seeing your daughter’s face while she’s studying abroad.”<br /><br />The feature will be rolled out over the next few days. Driving up its use in India will be the smartphone penetration that stands at an all-time high, and the intense data war. Experts say competition will drive down 3G and 4G data rates, sparking high use of the data-hungry video-calling feature.<br /><br />So, how does one make a video call? Once the feature is fully rolled out, the WhatsApp app will have to be updated. A video icon will appear close to the phone call symbol. Tapping the icon will initiate the video call, provided the receiver too has an updated version of the app. <br /><br />The feature is currently limited to individual calls and not groups. Its large user base gives WhatsApp video-calls an edge over other competing messaging platforms. <br /><br />Microsoft’s Skype, Apple’s FaceTime and the recently launched Google Duo are all active in the video space. <br /><br />But what about video call-drops due to inconsistent data links? WhatsApp’s Head of Business, Neeraj Arora contended that like the voice calls, video calls will be dynamic. “Depending on the quality of network, the video will adjust accordingly.<br /><br /> Like text and voice calling, video calls will also be encrypted end-to-end to ensure safety and privacy of its users,” he explained.<br /><br />Facebook, which has its own video-calling messenger service, had acquired WhatsApp for an unprecedented $19 billion in 2014. Earlier this year, tech giant Google had launched Allo (messaging app) and Duo (video-calling app).<br />DH News Service</p>
