WhatsApp Launches Guest Calling, Letting Non-Users Join Voice and Video Calls

Meta has introduced a "Guest Calling" feature that allows people without a WhatsApp account to join the app's voice and video calls, WhatsApp said in a statement. Under the feature, a person without an account can join a call from a computer browser through a link sent by the person hosting the call, the company said. It can be used for both group calls, which allow up to 32 people to join at once, and individual calls, and has now begun to be released publicly. WhatsApp said guests can enter the call after waiting in a waiting room, upon the host's permission. Guests will not see the phone numbers of other participants and will not be able to send messages. The host will have the power to remove guests from the call at any time, WhatsApp said. Guests will have access to common features such as screen sharing, raising a hand, and using emoji reactions. WhatsApp said the calls are end-to-end encrypted, free and have no time limit. Technology news outlets such as 9to5Mac and PCMag reported that the change is an important step taken by WhatsApp to compete with platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet. WhatsApp said it plans to expand the feature further in the future and would introduce a plugin at the end of this year that would allow call links to be shared through Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook. The plugin would make it possible to send direct WhatsApp links with meeting invitations.