Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp is developing a guest calling feature.
- Users without a WhatsApp account can join calls via a secure web link.
- Hosts must approve guests before they can join the call.
WhatsApp is expanding its guest functionality to include voice and video calls, allowing users without a WhatsApp account to join calls through a secure web link.
To initiate a guest call, the host can create a call link from the Calls tab, choose the type of call, and share the link with others.
Guests can open the link in their browser and join the call without needing to install the WhatsApp app or create an account.
The WhatsApp Web interface will display the call, and guests will have to request access, which the host must manually approve before they can enter the call.
This approval process ensures that the identity of the guest can be verified, preventing unauthorized access to the call.
Once approved, guests will remain end-to-end encrypted, just like regular calls, with the encryption key generated by a unique identifier created for each browser session.
The feature is currently under development and is not yet available for beta testing, with no release timeline provided by WhatsApp.
Guest calls differ from guest chats in that they are real-time and end when the call finishes, whereas guest chats can remain active for up to 10 days without activity.
While the feature is still in development, it builds on the existing guest chat system, which allows people without an account to join text conversations through a browser link.
