WhatsApp likely to launch group voice, video calls: report

WhatsApp’s latest beta version for iPhone shows good days are coming.

The app is on its way to launch a group calling feature soon – a much-needed addition to the platform.

According to WABetaInfo, which reports on upcoming features of WhatsApp, the WhatsApp v2.17.70 beta for iPhone update has code references to group calls.

"The 2.17.70 iOS update has very hidden references to group calls! Before it was an internal news, now it's all confirmed," WABetaInfo tweeted on Sunday. "There are a lot of hidden references about group voice calls, but there is only one reference to group video calls. So group video calls are partially confirmed at the moment."

"WhatsApp 2.17.70 sends a request to the server to ask if the user you are calling is in another group call!" WaBetaInfo tweeted.

"Note that these references we found are very strong (but they aren't visible for you at present) and they have allowed us to understand what WhatsApp is going to add in the application, as we did for WhatsApp for iPad," it added.

According to the WhatsApp watcher, the iPhone app will soon give group administrators more power, with the ability to remove a greater number of participants from a group at once.

Separately, the WhatsApp v2.17.387 beta for Android brings new administrator features for groups, including the ability to choose whether participants can modify the subject of the group, its icon, and its description. An option to prevent the group creator from being deleted by other administrators has also been added.

The messaging app is also testing the Unsend and Delete for Everyone features, WABetaInfo claims.