WhatsApp Adds Call Scheduling and Reactions in Major Update

Quick Summary:

• WhatsApp Features Update: whatsapp has introduced call scheduling for group calls, allowing users to plan calls in advance with reminders notifications sent to attendees.
• How It works:

– Use the Calls tab and click on the + button.
– select “Schedule Call” and invite groups or individuals.- Attendees receive reminders when the call is about to start.
– Upcoming calls can be managed within a dedicated tab that includes attendee details and call links.

• Additional Updates:

– Reaction features added during group calls, including options like “raise hand” for better interaction.

• Related Developments:

– previously launched ‘Message Summaries’ leveraging MetaAI for unread chats summaries in june.
– Plans underway for monetisation features, such as paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels in Discovery directory, and advertisements in the Status tab.

!Image: WhatsApp calling gets major update
Source: Agencies

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Indian Opinion Analysis:

WhatsApp’s new group call scheduling feature reflects it’s evolving emphasis on functionality that spans both personal ease and professional organization. By including tools like reminders and reactions such as “raise hand,” these updates aim to address user needs across collaborative workspaces while maintaining end-to-end encryption-a clear signal of its commitment to privacy.

The introduction of these features may also underscore WhatsApp’s ambition to remain competitive against other platforms offering similar professional utilities (Zoom or Microsoft Teams). Coupled with ongoing efforts toward monetization like paid subscriptions or promoted discovery channels, it appears Meta is strategically positioning WhatsApp both as an everyday tool not just socially but commercially.

For India especially-where whatsapp enjoys unmatched penetration-these enhancements could further cement its multifunctionality within enterprise circles already transitioning voice processes from traditional telcos toward OTT models. However, considerations over how deregulated voice/data via OTT disrupt existing telecom financial structures might warrant future observations at policy levels.