WhatsApp today announced an update for the desktop app for Mac and PC. The update introduces support for voice and video calls.
In December, clues were discovered that suggested today's update. While the mobile application already supports voice and video calls with end-to-end encryption, the desktop version has had to make do without it. That is now changing. is called it in the blog post:
Over the last year, more and more people have used WhatsApp for personal calls, often including longer conversations. On New Year's Eve last year, we broke the record for most calls in a single day, with 1.4 billion voice and video calls. With so many people still separated from loved ones and adjusting to new ways of working, we want conversations on WhatsApp to feel as personal as possible, no matter where in the world people live and what devices they use.
WhatsApp highlights end-to-end encryption
One notable difference from the mobile version is that it is not yet possible to join group calls. Only one-on-one calls are currently supported. According to WhatsApp, group voice and video calls will be possible on the desktop in the future. Regarding end-to-end encryption, the company explains:
Voice and video calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, so WhatsApp can't hear or see them, whether you're making calls on your phone or computer. We're starting with personal calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we can make sure we can offer you a reliable, high-quality experience. We'll continue to expand this feature and integrate group voice and video calls in the future.
To use the new video and voice calling features on the desktop, you must download the latest version. (Image: WhatsApp)
