WhatsApp Android App Now Has Free Voice Calling For Everyone

WhatsApp Android App Now Has Free Voice Calling For Everyone
 Latest Tech Update ; After a prolonged beta
test, WhatsApp has added a free voice calling feature to its Android app. This makes WhatsApp more competitive
against services like Skype, Viber and Apple AAPL
-0.18%
 I
Message/FaceTime.  Remember just of recent Whatsapp Voice Calling  was Banned in UAE

The calling feature on WhatsApp launched for Android
last month in beta to a small number of users, followed by availability on an
invitation-only basis. Now voice calling is available for every WhatsApp user
on Android.
WhatsApp Android App Now Has Free Voice Calling For Everyone
The WhatsApp calling
feature is available on version 2.12.5, but the Google
Play Store
 currently offers the older version 2.12.19. The older
version of WhatsApp enables the calling feature, but app reviewers have described
that it does not work appropriately yet. This means that there is a bit of
extra work necessary if you want  full access
to the calling feature currently. You can download the Android application
package (APK) file of WhatsApp version 2.12.5 through the WhatsApp website or an APK
Mirror website
. After installing the APK file and opening WhatsApp, you
will see a new tab for Calls next to the Chats and Contacts tab. Tap on the
Calls tab and select the name of the person that you want to call.
WhatsApp launched in 2009
as a simple group text messaging app, but a voice
messaging feature
was added in August 2013. And then, WhatsApp was
acquired by Facebook for
$19 billion
 in February 2014. By April 2014,
WhatsApp was hitting over 500 million monthly active users, 700 million photos
shared per day, 100 million videos shared per day and 10 billion messages sent
per day. A few months ago, WhatsApp launched a desktop
client service called WhatsApp Web
— which is activated by Android,
BlackBerry, Windows Phone or Nokia
S60 devices.

When someone calls you from WhatsApp, you will see an incoming WhatsApp call
screen. You will be able to tap and slide the green button to answer the call
or slide the red button to decline the call. Otherwise, you can tap on the
message icon on the call screen to decline the call with a quick message. The
Calls tab has a list of all your incoming, outgoing and missed WhatsApp calls.
The WhatsApp calling feature lets you switch to speakerphone, mute the call and
view the time spent during the call. It is worth mentioning that you cannot access 911
and other emergency service numbers through WhatsApp.

WhatsApp’s calling
feature does not come as a surprise. Last year, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum said that
voice calling will be added to WhatsApp. First it would roll out on Android and
iPhones. This would be followed by Windows Phone and certain BlackBerry models.
Last week, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton specifically
said that the voice calling feature will be added to the iOS
app within the next few weeks
. WhatsApp spent the last year refining
the voice calling feature before it was released on Android.
What are your
thoughts about WhatsApp calling for Android? Let us know in the comments
section below!