Last week we wrote to you that WhatsApp had enabled video calling feature for Windows Phone users running the latest beta version. Well it caught many by surprise that a developer would choose to release new features to Windows Phone platform before the mostly preferred iOS and Android platforms. Merely a week later and there are reports that the feature is now available to Android users, at least according to Android Police who first spotted the feature. As was the case with Windows phone users the feature is only available in the latest version of WhatsApp Beta for Android, version 2.16.318.
How to make a Video Call
The procedure for initiating a video call is the same as that reported for Windows Phone users.
- Launch the WhatsApp Beta app.
- If you are using the regular WhatsApp app for Android you will not be able to access this feature. If you want to try out the video calling feature you will need to uninstall the regular app, head over to the Play Store and download the beta version of the app.
- Pull up a contact you wish to initiate a video call with.
- Tap or click on the call icon.
- When you do that it presents you with two options.
- Voice call
- Video call
Choose the Video call option and that’s it.
Alternative method
Alternatively you can head over to the calls tab. You will be presented with two options namely voice call or video call. When you tap on the video call button you will be presented with a list of your contacts. Click on the contact you would wish to initiate the video call with and voila that is it.
Note that you can only establish a video call with an individual who is also running the latest WhatsApp Beta version. You will get an error message if you try to video call a contact running the regular app. The feature gives you the ability to switch between the front and rear camera. You can also choose to mute the video call.