WhatsApp Now Supports Eight-Person Video Calls

27 April, 2020 — James Brandon

Being a social networking giant, WhatsApp supports over two billion users across the globe. Apart from the ability to send and receive text messages and media files, the app also allows its users to make audio and video calls. The video calling feature has been supporting conference calls of up to four users.

Because of the recent demand for video calls due to the world’s current coronavirus situation, WhatsApp developers have decided to upgrade the video calling feature of the app and double the number of video calling participants from four to eight.

Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the update via a Facebook post, where he acknowledged that WhatsApp calls had increased significantly after the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic. He further explains that thanks to the update, friends and families will now be able to keep in touch easily.

In a different post on Twitter, the head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart revealed that the upgrade on WhatsApp video call participants would be effected on the next available versions of both the Android and iPhone platforms.

In his Facebook post, Mark Zuckerberg also added that other Facebook products like Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram would also get similar upgrades. Facebook users will receive virtual dates on Facebook dating, while Messenger users will enjoy messenger rooms (group video chatting platforms) and 360 virtual backgrounds. Lastly, Instagram users will be able to enjoy Instagram Live on desktop and also be able to save the live videos to IGTV.

All these efforts by Facebook are geared towards gaining a competitive advantage over Zoom (a video calling and conference calling app). Zoom has gained popularity over the last few months as most people are adhering to the social distancing directive from the World Health Organization (WHO).