WhatsApp has implemented a feature that allows individuals without an application account to participate in voice and video calls using the browser. This new functionality eliminates the requirement to register on the platform, although it imposes certain limitations on invited participants.
Furthermore, the company plans to integrate WhatsApp with Google and Outlook calendars, with a release scheduled for this year. This integration will allow calls to be initiated directly through these calendar services.
To join a call, the guest must receive an invitation and obtain approval from the host; it is not possible to start calls autonomously. Once authorized, the participant has the ability to share their screen, signal the need to speak by raising a hand, and interact with reactions such as thumbs-up and heart emojis. The duration of participation also has no established limit.
However, the access granted to guests does not cover all the functionalities of a standard account. Specifically, they cannot send messages on WhatsApp, check the phone numbers of other participants, or add new people to the conversation.
This access model resembles a feature of Apple's FaceTime, which allows participation in calls via a link without the obligation of having an Apple account or a device from that brand.
Another feature under development is a complement that will enable the creation of WhatsApp calls directly within Google and Outlook calendars. Although the launch is scheduled for this year, the company has not yet disclosed all the details of this integration.
This change has the potential to simplify meeting organization, especially for those who use these services to manage professional commitments, allowing scheduling to begin in the calendar rather than being done entirely within the messenger.
Calls for guests are part of a larger set of updates in WhatsApp. Among the most recent innovations mentioned by the company is also the mention of message scheduling as a future possibility, although the source material does not confirm a date for this implementation.
In summary, with guests, WhatsApp can include people who do not use the service in conversations, eliminating the need to create an account. The integration with calendars aims to optimize the organization of these calls, particularly in professional contexts.