Whatsapp Calling – It’s here, but is it for real?

Students,

I am guessing many of you have already tried this, if not, please do and comment. I will try and help… though at present the implementation and roll out of this great new service is a bit of a MESS!

Please read this post with my comments that include some early observations in my experience.. NO LIABILITY MYSIDE PLEASE .. try it, if it works great, if not … sorry for you .. just sayin!

Below taken from another site, with comments added from my experience in ().

With the official launch of WhatsApp Calling, the process of triggering the feature to be activated is to receive a call from another WhatsApp user that already has the feature unlocked (seems to be you can just upgrade to 2.12.5 or 2.12.7)? However, if the user being called up does not have the latest version of WhatsApp installed, a notification will be sent to request the user to update the app before the call is made (I tried this and I got a notification?).

According to Android news website Android Police, after a user receives a call from another WhatsApp user with the WhatsApp Calling feature already activated, the user interface for the app changes, either instantly or after the user closes and then re-opens WhatsApp. The new user interface displays three tabs, labeled as calls, chats and contacts. (I re-started my phone and got the above photo interface … not as described here, but seems to work?)

The call feature has been integrated well into WhatsApp, with the tab for WhatsApp Calling showing all incoming, outgoing and missed calls with their exact times. Calls that are ongoing are placed in the app’s notification panel until the call is ended, and calls that are missed leave notifications that can later be checked by the user. While in a call, users can choose to mute their microphones or to turn on the loudspeaker.

Accessing the call feature can be done through the messages with any of the user’s contact, as a call button will appear as one of the options in the action bar for that user beside the attach option and the menu. (true – though not sure if a normal phone voice call or whatsapp call)

Users that tap on the avatar of a contact will also be shown a profile image of the user that is bigger in size, with options of either sending them a message or calling them displayed, along with viewing their information. (True – see image above)

The call button for contacts now leads by default to a WhatApp call, as opposed to a smartphone call in the past. (TRUE)

It seems the whatsapp chat is live and working, but we will only know if worthwhile when we see the BILL! Tread carefully and let us know any issues so we can keep everyone informed. I repeat, the implementation of this is not simple to understand / check nor is it the same on the 3 phones I have…

Good Luck
J.

302 total views, 9 today