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Tag: whatsapp

  • Whatsapp Hunters Seeking New Financial Sector Game

    Whatsapp Hunters Seeking New Financial Sector Game

    After imposing fines on large banks UBS and Credit Suisse for using unsecured communication channels, the US Securities and Exchange Commission is now aiming for another industry.

    Now, US fund behemoths Blackstone and Blackrock are in the sights of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which announced months ago it wanted to investigate other financial firms after taking on the banks.

    The company said Blackstone was contacted by the SEC back in October to release information about its retention of electronic business communications and text messages. Blackrock reported that it would respond to a Securities and Exchange Commission request concerning an industry-wide investigation. Both companies said they would cooperate with regulators.

    Earlier, financial investors Apollo Global Management, Carlyle Group, and KKR reported a request from the agency to do so.

    Last year, after months of investigation, the SEC fined a total of 16 financial firms, including Wall Street titans Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan. Credit Suisse and UBS also had to pay $200 million each.

    The fines resulted in the banks imposing stricter controls on private phone use.

    JP Morgan recently took a new approach to ensure compliance rules were followed in employee communications, phasing out the company smartphone in the process.

    According to a media report, it is relying on a company smartphone app to ensure communications are compliant. Bankers and traders have been asked to hand over their company cell phones and install a monitoring app on their private devices instead that allows monitoring of work-related messages.

    Swiss banks have precise regulations on which channels and in what form professional communication is allowed and what the documentation requirements are. At UBS, there are clear guidelines of which employees are regularly reminded

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  • WhatsApp has a Newsletter feature in the works

    WhatsApp has a Newsletter feature in the works

    WhatsApp has been working on a plethora of cool features recently, and many new features and features under development get regularly discovered in beta versions of the popular chat app. The latest report from WABetaInfo on features in the works for the app tells us that the company is now working on a newsletters feature. 

    The folks at WABetaInfo have discovered references to the useful feature in beta 2.23.5.3 for iOS. It is unclear whether the feature will be called “Newsletter”, it could very well be a codename for the feature as well, so do keep that in mind. 

    As you might imagine judging by the name (or codename) of said feature, it will be used for broadcasting information. You can receive useful updates from groups, local officials, sports teams, or other organizations. 

    This new feature will likely be an extension of the Communities feature – another useful social feature that allows up to 10 groups to be linked together. 

    The Newsletter feature seems to be a “separate and optional” section of the app, and it is said to be apart from standard chats and groups. So far, there’s no preview of where the feature will be situated on the app. Understandably, newsletters won’t be encrypted end-to-end (they are intended for a large group of recipients). 

    You will be able to search for Newsletters you will like to follow using handles. You will be in control of who you follow, and others won’t be able to see who you’re following – all in all, it seems Newsletters won’t pivot to a public social network and they will remain a personal space. To protect your privacy, WhatsApp will mask and hide the phone numbers of users who create or subscribe to a newsletter.

    It is still quite early to say when this feature will show up in an official WhatsApp release. Also, we don’t currently have more details about it, but when we know more, we’ll make sure to let you know, so stay tuned!

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  • Update to iOS version of WhatsApp adds multitasking feature already available on Android

    Update to iOS version of WhatsApp adds multitasking feature already available on Android

    Back in December of last year, we told you that WhatsApp was conducting a beta test involving a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature for video chats on iOS. Now, according to 9to5Google, we can tell you that version 23.3.77 of the iOS variant of the WhatsApp app is available, allowing users in the middle of conducting a video call to access another app without having to pause or disconnect the video call that is in progress.

    The PiP works like this. When you are engaging in a video call and want to multitask by opening another app, exiting WhatsApp will minimize the video chat and allow it to float above other apps. You can move it around the screen with your finger while the video chat continues and the other app you want to open is underneath it. The feature might not work right away and WhatsApp says it will disseminate it over the coming weeks.

    The update to version 23.3.77 also includes new features, including adding captions when sending documents to contacts in personal or group chats. You will also be able to use longer group subject names and descriptions when describing a WhatsApp group. Following the update, these names and descriptions can be as long as 2,048 characters which is a huge increase from the prior 512 characters allowed.

    Stable-mates Facebook and Instagram allow users to create personalized avatars and now WhatsApp users can do so as well. To create your own avatar, open the WhatsApp app and go to Settings > Avatar > Create Your Avatar. Follow the directions and tap on Done. That’s just the first step. To make your new Avatar the profile picture on WhatsApp, open the app and tap on your profile picture. Then tap on Edit > Edit.

    Again, this update is for iOS only since Android users already have Picture-in-Picture capabilities for video chat on WhatsApp. If you want version 23.3.77 of WhatsApp for iOS right away, you can install the version of WhatsApp from the App Store since it already includes the aforementioned features including PiP for video chat.

  • Newest version of WhatsApp on Android introduces competitive new features

    Newest version of WhatsApp on Android introduces competitive new features

    WhatsApp has been hard at work lately, adding features to compete with the likes of Signal and Telegram. However, a few new features are already making their way to the Android app, including one still in the beta testing phase.
    According to WABetaInfo, the new features are in addition to the status update ones announced last week, which were meant for both iOS and Android. These additional new features targeted the Android app specifically and were spotted when they appeared in the release notes of the latest version available via the Google Play Store.
    The version in question is 2.23.3.77, which has an update date of February 13th, and lists the below new features:
    • You can now add captions when sending documents
    • Added support for longer group subjects and descriptions to describe your group better
    • You can now send up to 100 photos/videos at once (vs. 30 previously)
    • You can now create personalized avatars and use them as stickers and profile photos. Go to Settings > Avatar to get started.
    The most prominent and useful one of all the features above, at least to me, happens to be the increase in the number of photos and videos that can be sent all at once within a conversation. Going from 30 to 100 is quite the leap and hopefully enough for even the most active photographers.

    However, one rumored upcoming feature has not yet made it out of beta: Disappearing Messages. The ephemeral message feature, made popular initially by Snapchat, is currently only available in the beta version of the app. Additionally, the beta version also includes a “Kept Messages” folder, which is meant to store the disappearing messages you prefer to keep indefinitely. Sadly, the beta version of WhatsApp for Android is currently full and not accepting new registrations.

    All of these changes come at a time when Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp at Meta, is launching an all-out war against Telegram by urging his Twitter followers not to use that app, going as far as to label it as “Russian spyware.” So far, this battle has been beneficial for WhatsApp users in that it has sparked some innovation and new features to be launched. It will be interesting to see how far this goes and how much we as users can get out of it.
  • WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    Although an app with a very large and broad user base, WhatsApp can still leave a lot to be desired when it comes to its features. Competing apps such as Signal and Telegram have, for years, outshined the Meta-owned application in that respect; However, WhatsApp is now stepping things up and adding

    WhatsApp announced via a blog post that the company will be adding more options to the status section of the app, which is often used to convey fleeting information with friends and close contacts. These statuses are available for 24 hours and can contain a variety of media, including photos, videos, animated GIFs, etc. Here’s a summary of the new features you can expect:

    • Private Audience Selector: Every status update you post might not be appropriate for all of your contacts all of the time, so WhatsApp will now have the ability to update your privacy settings on a per-status basis so that you can choose who sees each new version of the status that you post. The audience that you most recently selected will be remembered and used as the default for your subsequent status update.
    • Voice Status: You will soon be able to record and share voice messages on WhatsApp status that are up to 30 seconds long. Voice status allows for sending more personal updates, which is especially useful if you find that expressing yourself verbally rather than through typing is more comfortable for you.
    • Status Reactions: You can now respond to any status in a flash by swiping up and selecting one of eight different emojis from the menu that appears. It goes without saying that you can still respond to a status update with a text message, voice message, stickers, or any number of other options. Status reactions have been one of the most requested features since the debut of Reactions a year ago.
    • Status Profile Rings for New Updates: When a contact of yours shares an update to their status, a ring will appear around their profile picture. This will be viewable in the chat lists, the participant lists for groups, as well as the contact information, thus making it easier to never miss a status update from a friend or family member again.
    • Link Previews on Status: When you send a message or post a link on your status, you will now see an automatic visual preview of the message or link’s content, just as you do when you send a message. Visual previews not only improve the appearance of your status updates but also provide your contacts with a clearer picture of the link’s content before they click on it.

    These updates have begun to be made available to users all over the world, and they will be accessible to absolutely everyone in the coming weeks. As usual, just like your personal chats and calls, your WhatsApp status is protected by end-to-end encryption so that you can share in a private manner without compromising your safety.

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  • SEC Searching for More Whatsapp Offenders

    SEC Searching for More Whatsapp Offenders

    Last year, the SEC imposed fines worth billions of dollars for violations of record-keeping requirements in banks’ communications with their customers. It seems more firms are being targeted.

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered some large hedge funds to review the personal cell phones of certain employees for evidence of trades made through unauthorized channels. Among those targeted are Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management, and Ken Griffin’s Citadel.

    Last year, the SEC imposed heavy fines on banks after months of investigations into a series of corresponding cases. A total of 16 financial companies, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley, paid a total of $1.8 billion.

    Credit Suisse and UBS also had to pay $200 million each. Employees at each of the firms were accused of communicating with customers about business matters via chat programs and applications such as Whatsapp.

    If customer contacts were conducted via the private devices of bank employees and not recorded accordingly, there were in violation of the banks’ documentation obligations.

    The hedge funds contacted by the SEC were asked to search the devices of certain employees for evidence of business dealings on unauthorized channels, the sources told «Bloomberg». The SEC is also investigating the practices of brokerage firms, asset managers, and private equity firms.

    Reuters reported last October the SEC was looking to expand its investigation to other financial firms. From the SEC’s perspective, the retention and documentation of communications between institutions and clients serve market integrity.

    By imposing the fines, the authority wants to ensure communications about business matters are handled exclusively through official channels and be tracked accordingly.

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  • Google widens its testing of WhatsApp-like feature for its Messages platform

    Google widens its testing of WhatsApp-like feature for its Messages platform

    Android users, you can’t complain about how messaging on the platform is behind the times if you’re using one of the messaging apps offered by your carrier. If you want features like end-to-end encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, and no character limit (vs. 160 limit with SMS), Android users need to be using the Google Messages app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
    It sounds a lot like Apple’s Messages app, right? And here’s the thing. When are Android users using RCS Chat to message fellow RCS Chat users, what color their text bubbles are? Did you say blue? And what do you think happens in a group chat when an iOS user joins the convo? All of these features disappear. Sound familiar?
    Last October Google started beta testing a feature already employed by some of the better third-party messaging apps. Replacing delivery indicators such as Sent, Delivered, and Read (which are all self-explanatory), Google turned to the tried and true checkmark system. One single checkmark in a circle indicates that a message has been sent. Two checkmarks in a circle icons side-by-side reveal that a message has been delivered. And if those two side-by-side checkmarks in a circle icons appear filled out, it means that the message has been read.
    Android Police notes that Google has extended the beta test to more Android devices and this writer discovered the checkmarks on a Pixel 6 Pro running Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1. To see if this feature is available for your phone, simply engage in a chat with one of your Android-using pals (make sure that they are using the Google Messages app) and check to see how the read receipts are being handled on your device. The use of a checkmark system as a delivery indicator can be seen in third-party messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Signal.
    Google, as you might know, has been asking Apple to support RCS in the hope that both Android and iOS users can live in peace and harmony. As expected, Apple has not agreed to Google’s request.
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  • Whatsapp has new feature to undo send messages

    Whatsapp has new feature to undo send messages

    For many phone owners, the person they message the most is themselves. No, it has nothing to do with egotistical behavior and has everything to do with using common sense. Sometimes when you need to jot down a note you’re caught without paper or a pen. While an app like Google Keep is ideal for these situations, some would rather send a message to themselves.
    But if WhatsApp is their preferred messaging app, this could not be done unless the user opened a group chat and included himself as one of the group members, and then sent a message to this group. Who wants to go through all that just to remind yourself that the dog walker is on vacation, or to save a story or video that you just viewed online? The Meta-owned app has fixed this by disseminating an update that allows WhatsApp subscribers to send messages to themselves.
    A WhatsApp user can now select themself to be the lone recipient of a message he or she is going to send via the app. After typing the message you want to send yourself, the app puts up a notification that points out that the message you send is protected by end-to-end encryption. Unless you have multiple personalities, this doesn’t matter. But it does mean that WhatsApp or any other person that isn’t you, can not read or listen to the message.
    Meta had this feature beta tested by iPhone users and is rolling it out now for all users. It has been made available on Android and does work on this writer’s Pixel 6 Pro running Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1.
    WhatsApp has added more than just the ability to message yourself. Following the update, you can undo the “Delete for me” feature to bring back a message that you’ve accidentally erased from your WhatsApp account. To see how this works, you can just send a test message to yourself (which you can do now) and long-press on the test message. Tap the trash can icon on the top of the screen and you will see a pop-up. Select Delete for me and a bar at the bottom of the screen will appear that says “Message deleted for me” with the word UNDO on the right side of the bar. Tap it to undo the deletion and the message will return.
    You also can now control who will be able to see when you’re online. From the WhatsApp app tap the three-dot menu icon on the top right of the screen and go to Settings > Privacy > Last seen and online. You can tap Nobody on the top quarter of the display so that no one can see when you were last on WhatsApp. Underneath you can choose who can see when you’re online. The options are Everybody and Same as last seen. Select the latter option and if you have Nobody picked for last seen, no one will be able to see if you’re online.
    When you are about to message one of your WhatsApp contacts, under that person’s name, it will show the last time he or she was seen on the app. So if you’re a private person you might want to follow the directions in the above paragraph so that no one knows when you were on WhatsApp last and whether you are on now. On the other hand, you might want your contacts to know when you are available to have a conversation on the platform.
    Another new feature will allow users to search for a past chat by the date it took place. This helps if you can’t find a specific chat but you know the date when it occurred.
  • WhatsApp might let you share voice notes as status updates

    WhatsApp might let you share voice notes as status updates

    As you probably know, typing messages is old-school. Sending voice messages is the way to chat with your friends these days. It takes less time to compose such a message, and you can do it on the go, even while driving.

    In WhatsApp, you can send a recorded voice message to a friend, which is great, right? But you can’t use a voice message as a status update. This means that if you want to convey a note to all of your contacts, you will still need to type your thoughts on a virtual keyboard. And if you are tired of doing that, you will be happy to learn that WhatsApp might soon let you create voice notes as status updates.

    As WABetaInfo first reported, WhatsApp is releasing the ability to share voice notes as status updates to some beta testers with version 2.23.2.8 of the WhatsApp beta app for Android. The voice notes have a maximum length of 30 seconds and disappear after 24 hours, just like the text, photos, videos, and GIF status options.

    In terms of privacy, the new addition to the status updates is also end-to-end encrypted, and only the people chosen in your privacy settings will be able to listen to your shared voice messages. Also, you will be able to delete a shared voice note at any given time.

    As we can see from the images below, the new status update feature will be accessible within the text status section. The beta testers that currently have this function enabled also have a new microphone icon that allows them to record a voice note. Furthermore, it appears that you will be able to listen to your recording and discard it if you wish before sharing it.

    According to WABetaInfo, the feature will be rolled out to more users in the coming weeks.

  • WhatsApp’s newest feature helps users avoid internet shutdowns

    WhatsApp’s newest feature helps users avoid internet shutdowns

    WhatsApp starts the new year with a minor update introducing proxy support, a feature that should help some users avoid internet shutdowns. The new feature is available for WhatsApp users worldwide, regardless of their phone (iOS or Android).

    According to WhatsApp, all the proxies that will be available to choose from will connect through servers set up by volunteers and organizations. The messaging app has also published a guide to help those who want to volunteer for such a task, which is pretty easy to follow if you’re tech-savvy.

    If you want to benefit from the feature, here is how you can connect to a proxy if you have an Android or an iOS device.

    Connect to a proxy on Android

    • Make sure you are using the most current version of WhatsApp.
    • In the Chats tab, tap More options / Settings.
    • Tap Storage and Data > Proxy.
    • Tap Use Proxy.
    • Tap Set Proxy and enter the proxy address.
    • Tap Save.
    • A check mark will show if the connection is successful.

    Connect to a proxy on iPhone

    • Make sure you are using the most current version of WhatsApp.
    • Go to WhatsApp Settings.
    • Tap Storage and Data / Proxy.
    • Tap Use Proxy.
    • Enter the proxy address and tap Save to connect.
    • A check mark will show if the connection is successful.

    As per WhatsApp’s official statement, the level of privacy and security that the app provides should remain just as high when connecting via proxy, so we shouldn’t be worried about privy eyes. End-to-end encryption will remain active even when connecting the app through other servers via proxies, so messages should not be visible to anyone in between (i.e. proxy servers, WhatsApp, or Meta).

    To take advantage of proxy support, check out the new feature in the settings menu, but first make sure you have the latest version of the app installed.

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  • WhatsApp will soon stop working on these iPhone and Samsung devices

    WhatsApp will soon stop working on these iPhone and Samsung devices

    WhatsApp periodically phases out older smartphones, so it’s no surprise that around 50 devices will no longer be able to run the messaging app this year. This is the second time in the last three months that WhatsApp is phasing out support for many Android and iOS devices.

    The last time happened in October when WhatsApp revealed it will no longer support iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and no less than 40 Android devices from Samsung, Huawei, LG, Sony, ZTE, HTC, Lenovo, and Alcatel.

    This time around WhatsApp confirmed it will no longer support nearly 50 phones, including the Apple iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c. The rest of the phones on the list are made by Samsung, Huawei, LG, Sony, Lenovo, and ZTE.

    These phones will no longer be supported because they haven’t been updated in a very long time. It looks like WhatsApp has upped the requirements for its app, so phones that don’t run at least Android 5.0 Lollipop or iOS 12.

    WhatsApp’s FAQ still mentions that it supports Android phones running OS 4.1 and newer. However, many (if not all) of the phones that will lose WhatsApp support at the end of the year are running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, so we’re a bit on the fence regarding the accuracy of the information.

    The list includes mostly entry-level and mid-range smartphones. If you’re using one of these devices, you’ll probably want to upgrade to a newer phone to continue to use WhatsApp and receive new updates.

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  • WhatsApp Beta enables users to utilize the app on multiple phones

    WhatsApp Beta enables users to utilize the app on multiple phones

    WhatsApp is one of the staples of modern mobile communication. It offers safety through it’s end-to-end encryption and a list of features, which seems to have become ever-growing.

    Recently, the app got updated with a brand new feature called Call Links. Not much time has passed since then, and users enrolled in Beta already got some exciting news, which Whatsapp fans have been clamoring for: using a single account across multiple phones.

    The steps are very simple; however, keep in mind that this is only for a limited number of users on the Beta. The easiest way to check if you’ve got access to the feature is by tapping on the top right menu and checking for a “Link Device” option.

    If you see it, it’s pretty straightforward from there:

    1. Click on the Link Device button to generate a QR code
    2. Scan the QR code with your Companion device (phone or tablet)
    3. Presto! Now you have WhatsApp on both phones

    Naturally, make sure to have WhatsApp installed on your secondary device of choice. The process is very familiar to setting up WhatsApp Desktop, but again – this is a Beta. As such, bugs are expected, but your participation is sure to help clear them out quickly.

    WhatsApp seems to be looking to grow its services and it’s refreshing to see. Seasoned Android veterans are sure to have noticed how many apps are available, which allow users to utilize multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device.That’s a sure sign that this is a sought-after feature, but it would be best served from the Meta-owned company, in order to ensure data safety. But still – maybe this is the next logical step in this update chain, but we will have to wait and see.

    Those of you who are already enrolled in the WhatsApp Beta program may want to check if the 2.22.24.18 update is available to them, though a wide rollout is still not unleashed. If you are excited to try this feature, make sure you enroll in the Beta program – you might be one of the lucky ones!

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  • WhatsApp’s new feature Call Links begins rollout

    WhatsApp’s new feature Call Links begins rollout

    WhatsApp announced a new feature last month called Call Links. Those excited to utilize secure group calls that only take a few seconds to set up may rejoice: the feature has officially started rolling out on a larger scale.

    As the name suggests, the feature allows WhatsApp users to create group calls, with or without video, accessible only by a simple link. These calls can host up to 32 people at a time, while the link itself is valid for 90 days.

    Naturally, all invitees must have a WhatsApp account and as of now, the feature is only supported on mobile phones. If you should open a Call Link on the WhatsApp desktop web app, it will inform you of the limitation and provide you with several options to get on the group call via your phone, like another link and a QR code.

    While it may seem redundant, as if you can open the link on the web app, then you must already have access to it on your phone, having an easy way to generate QR codes for calls that can last 3 months sounds like a nice hidden feature.

    Those interested in trying out Call Links can check if it’s available to them via these simple steps:

    1. Open WhatsApp on your smartphone
    2. Navigate to the rightmost tab labeled “Calls”
    3. On the top you should see the “Create call link” option

    And that’s all it takes to get a group call started on WhatsApp! While this is a significant improvement for individuals yearning for fast options that are known to be secure, the process is a tad more complicated than that of competitors.

    Zoom and Google Meet come to mind almost immediately. Both services provide video calls for up to 100 participants without any extra fees. You can also get access to extra options at a premium. Zoom’s calls can go up to 300 participants, while Google offers features such as streaming directly to YouTube.

    Both services will let you join in on a call without an account, which makes them a bit more accessible. Google even has an additional merit here: most people already have accounts set up, as you can’t really make the most of an Android device without one.

    You can even use your Google account to log into Zoom. While WhatsApp still requires your phone number, meaning that the only barrier that Call Links actually lifts is having another person’s number in your contact list.

    While WhatsApp’s service is completely free, it doesn’t have any extra features beyond voice calls. But their mission is different too: to let people communicate freely, without barriers. And Call Links completely matches that criteria.

    … And that would’ve been a poetic finale, if WhatsApp hadn’t been reported on testing calls for groups of over 1000 people. Given their ambitious experiments, this might just be the start for Call Links. Its future renditions may give competitors a run for their money.

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  • WhatsApp might soon increase the group chat cap to 1024 people

    WhatsApp might soon increase the group chat cap to 1024 people

    If you are a WhatsApp user with many friends, and we mean a lot, lot — 1000+ — you will be happy to learn that, soon, you will probably be able to add up to 1024 of your friends in one group chat.

    As WABetaInfo first reported, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature to select WhatsApp beta testers that increase the current 512-person group chat cap to 1024.
    Previously, you could only add up to 256 people in one group chat, but WhatsApp saw that wasn’t enough anymore, and in June 2022, it increased the limit to 512 people. After all, if you are a big business with many employees that use WhatsApp as its main communication app, a 256-person cap is just not enough.

    Before the limit increase, many large companies that use WhatsApp had to make and manage multiple group chats because they couldn’t add all of their employees to one single conversation. And now, just a few months after the raise, WhatsApp wants to double the limit again, enabling even bigger companies to use the app as their main communication method.

    Furthermore, to give admins better control over these large groups, WhatsApp is also working on a new set of tools. For example, it wants to introduce a list of pending participants — which is a section that lists all the people wanting to join a group and lets admins approve them at any time — and an approval system that enables admins to choose who can add new participants to the group.Sadly, there is no information on when WhatsApp will release these features to regular users. If you want to have a group chat with 1000+ people right now, you could create a group in Telegram. The cap there is 200,000 people, which should be plenty enough.

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  • WhatsApp debuts Call Links feature, starts testing encrypted video calling

    WhatsApp debuts Call Links feature, starts testing encrypted video calling

    WhatsApp has just announced Call Links, a brand-new feature leaked previously, will be making its way to users sometime this week. Just like the name suggests, Call Links allows users to send links to contacts to join their calls.

    Obviously, the contact you’re sharing the link with must-have WhatsApp installed, otherwise, they won’t be able to join the call. On the bright side, this makes joining a call much easier since you only need to tap the link received.

    Beyond contacts in your phonebook, you’ll be able to send a call link to anyone on WhatsApp. Links can be added to an invite or sent in a chat, and they’re available for both audio and video calls. This is especially useful when you want to plan a conference call with multiple people that might or might not be in your contacts list. If they’re on WhatsApp, they will receive your links and join the call if they wish to.

    WhatsApp’s new Call Links feature will be rolled out to users on Android and iOS globally, starting this week. If you don’t see it on your phone yet, the wait a few more days.

    It’s unclear how WhatsApp plans to protect video calls from people who obtain these links fraudulently, but just to be on the safe side, double check who you’re sending these call links to before you actually do it.

    In related news, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg confirmed WhatsApp has started testing secure encrypted video calling for up to 32 people. We’re promised more information on the subject soon, so that’s about all we have for now.

    It’s kind of ironic that WhatsApp has added the option to send call links so that people can easily join calls but promises to provide better security over video calls sometime in the future.