After completing the voice-calling rollout for WhatsApp on all mobile platforms, the world's largest mobile messaging application is planning to introduce a video-calling feature. Leaked screenshots from German tech website Macerkopf.de show WhatsApp's video calling feature in action.
The leaked screenshots, according to the publication, are part of WhatsApp's unreleased version 2.12.16.2, Business Insider reports. But there is no fixed release date or information on whether the new feature is indeed going to embrace WhatsApp anytime soon.
Adding video calling feature to WhatsApp makes sense as the cross-platform mobile communication app already offers two main features — messaging and voice calling. Video calling integration makes it easier for users to find all means of communications in one place. After all, WhatsApp's aim is to grow as big as its parent company, Facebook, which already allows users to do video calls through its Messenger app.
With more than 900 million active users, WhatsApp has the potential to make video calling a grand success. But the company's attempt to integrate voice calling was not too fruitful despite a lively response from users before the feature was actually rolled out.
Especially in India, where users struggle to establish a consistent 3G connection, using WhatsApp voice calling turned out to be a disaster. But WhatsApp is arguably the most widely used mobile application for messaging in the country.
It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp integrates video calling into the app and optimises it to be used even in slower networks. With the new feature in place, WhatsApp will be competing with apps like Skpe, imo and Messenger.
