Meta Platforms Inc.'s (NASDAQ: META) instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, has unleashed a slew of new features that directly challenge the dominance of Zoom Video Communication (NASDAQ: ZM), Microsoft Corp's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Teams and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google Meet.
What Happened: WhatsApp seems to be gearing up for a showdown with industry giants by introducing a feature that promises to transform how group voice calls are orchestrated.
Drawing inspiration from productivity powerhouses like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp is rolling out the ability to schedule voice calls within group chats, reported WaBetaInfo.
The scheduling feature is already in the beta testing phase. People using WhatsApp's Android beta version 2.23.17.7 may explore this call-scheduling feature, which enables users to arrange calls and provide advance notifications to group members.
How To Schedule Voice Calls: Within a group chat, users can now tap on the phone icon, revealing a menu that offers the option to select a specific date and time for a forthcoming call. Then, an invitation is swiftly dispatched to the entire group, ensuring that participants are informed well in advance.
Notably, those who decide to join the scheduled call receive a convenient reminder 15 minutes before the appointed time, guaranteeing punctuality and engagement.
Why It's Important: Earlier this week, WhatsApp introduced another major feature - screen sharing. This strategic move places WhatsApp in direct competition with the video conferencing titans, including Microsoft Meet, Google Meet, and even Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) FaceTime.
A simple tap on the "Share" icon opens up a world of options, empowering users to share specific applications or their entire screen. While initially available to select beta testers on Android, WhatsApp's screen-sharing feature is set to sweep across platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows Desktop.
Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced this feature through his social media channels, underscoring its importance in the grand scheme of things.
Additionally, WhatsApp has also unveiled Landscape mode for video calls.