Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp version 2.23.16.19 is working on a beta version that provides a new “voice chat” feature that will allow up to 32 people to participate in a call.
“With this feature, WhatsApp plans to offer group participants a new way to initiate voice calls,” said WhatsApp watcher WABetaInfo. The new feature is not dissimilar to group calls in Discord, a messaging and social app developed for gamers.
If you have access, you’ll notice a new voice waveform icon within a group chat. By clicking on the button it will immediately launch a voice chat. Anyone in the group chat will receive a push notification, 32 people can accept and start talking. This new feature will not make any phone ring unlike the existing group calls, voice chats.
Voice chat remains active after everyone leaves, the session will automatically end after an hour.
According to WABetaInfo, “This appears to be wider release so some users on the stable version of the app might be able to experiment with the same feature.”