Earlier today, WhatsApp released an update which allows Android users to begin placing voice calls to their WhatsApp contacts.
This feature was quietly launched inside of version 2.12.19 of WhatsApp, which is directly available from the company’s website but doesn’t appear to have populated Google Play just yet.
The calling function is embedded in the app next to the contacts and chats tab. I really don’t know much about its call quality but I got reports that is works quite well and also reports of its quality being awful. Perhaps that explains why WhatsApp probably isn’t advertising the function just yet.
Calls can only go through to contacts who have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on their Android smartphone since the feature is only available to Android users.
iOS users can expect the feature in the coming weeks and we hope WhatsApp cleans up the calling function for the sake of end users before it gets on other platforms.
