In versions 2.20.50.25 (beta version of iOS TestFlight) and 2.20.133 (beta version of Android from the Google Play store), the video chat function for WhatsApp has been expanded. The participant’s limit for video calls is increased from four to eight. It's not at Zoom levels yet, but it should be enough for the whole family to call their grandparents.
Back in early April, WhatsApp proudly announced that it would offer video calls for groups of up to four people. Now the limit needs to be increased even more - to double the amount. The first new feature was seen in WABetainfo, a hot spring of new and future WhatsApp features.
As always, it is important to curb your expectation. Many of you will not be able to invite seven friends to video calls on WhatsApp today or tomorrow. Often you first need to register in TestFlight (iOS) or Beta (Android) in the appropriate application store.
And even after installing one of the versions mentioned above, this function will not necessarily be activated immediately. You may need to completely reinstall so that WhatsApp downloads new configuration files from the servers, but even so, you may not be part of the A / B test group that sees the new video chat limitations.
Another trick is that you need to convince seven other participants for the new feature to work. Because even with the invitation, the new functionality does not just become active. What exactly technically is behind the increase in the limit is unknown.
In any case, no one in the wild has ever made successful WhatsApp calls to more than four people. But that is likely to change soon.
The competition never sleeps
While the larger competitor WhatsApp, Telegram still does not have an official video chat function, and the Zoom leader does not guarantee data protection, Messenger Threema, who cares about privacy, slowly introduces new functionality, his video calls go into beta phase ( blog post).
Group video calls, however, are not available in the alternatives to Threema, Signal, and most importantly, Telegram. So WhatsApp is moving towards finding a new unique selling point, even if it is still far from Google Hangouts Meet, Jitsi (highly recommended) or Zoom.
Source:
BetaInfo
