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WhatsApp enables account-free call joining with new guest feature

WhatsApp is enhancing its calling features by introducing a "guest calling" option, allowing individuals without a WhatsApp account to join calls via a web browser. This new functionality, however, restricts guests from initiating calls and requires host approval to join. While guests can participate in group calls and use features like screen sharing and reactions, they cannot see other users' phone numbers or add participants. The company also plans to integrate with Google and Outlook calendars later this year to facilitate call scheduling. AI

IMPACT Enhances accessibility for communication platforms, potentially increasing user engagement and integration with other services.

RANK_REASON This is a feature update for an existing consumer product, not a frontier release or significant industry event.

Read on Engadget →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

WhatsApp enables account-free call joining with new guest feature

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Signal score
4 / 100
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Newsworthiness bucket
Tool
This is a feature update for an existing consumer product, not a frontier release or significant industry event.
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Single-source cluster
Only one publisher covered this so far. Single-source stories can still rank when the publisher is high-authority, but they lack cross-source corroboration.
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product
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Low
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Breaking (< 6h)
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Full methodology in our editorial standards.

COVERAGE [1]

  1. Engadget TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] (Anna Washenko) ·

    WhatsApp adds a guest option for joining calls without an account

    It's also working on calendar integrations for later this year.