WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, will launch a voice and video calling feature for its desktop app in 2021.
The company spokesperson saying Reuters that the platform has already rolled out the feature for some users on a trial basis before the holidays, as COVID-19 has forced celebrations to move online amid the pandemic.
This latest move will put WhatsApp on par with video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
However, it is unknown if WhatsApp plans to compete with these platforms in the professional and business space. Unlike Zoom or Google Meet, WhatsApp is used primarily for personal audio and video calls by its two billion users around the world.
It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp will compete with other video conferencing platforms during the holidays.
Services like Zoom and Google Meet are trying to keep their clients professional by removing the limit on free calls during the holidays to encourage their users to connect with family and friends online.
Source: Reuters
