WhatsApp group call scheduling is now rolling to beta users on Android. With this new feature, WhatsApp has added another feature to its platform to take on the likes of Zoom and Google Meet. Notably, Zoom and Meet let users schedule calls and send call links for a while now. WhatsApp has already added call links to its platform and now lets users schedule calls. Let’s take a look at the new feature introduced by the Meta-owned instant messaging platform.
WhatsApp Beta for Android Now Lets Users Schedule Group Calls
WABetaInfo has reported that the feature is now rolling out to select beta users globally after reporting earlier that the feature is in development. According to the popular WhatsApp beta update tracker website, the group call scheduling feature is available in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.17.7 but might also be available to users of the 2.23.17.5 and 2.23.17.6 updates.
As you can see in the screenshot above, group members can schedule a group call by simply tapping on the call button. In the context menu that pops up, users will see an additional Schedule Call option apart from the usual Call Group option. Once the user taps on the Schedule Call option, they can set the call subject, time, and date. Users can also select whether they want to schedule a video or voice call with the group members.
Once the call is scheduled, a prompt will be sent to the group, and only group participants can join the call. Once the group participants confirm their call participation by clicking the Join Call button, they will be reminded 15 minutes before the call starts. The process is quite similar to WhatsApp’s peers and allows users to have a coordinated meeting with group members.
WhatsApp has been improving its group call features recently. The platform increased the number of members to start a group call from 7 to 15. Notably, while the number of participants in a group call remains 32, users could start a video call with only 7 participants, and the remaining had to be added later.
The company recently introduced a new group voice chat similar to Twitter Spaces. According to the report, a new waveform icon will be added next to the group name. Anyone can click on the icon to start talking, and up to 32 group members can join the voice chat at a time. While anyone can join the group chat, members are not notified when a voice chat is initiated.
