WhatsApp allows people from all over the world to connect with each other, by sending text messages, pictures and videos, and voice messages. The app also enables its s to call each other, without u minutes on their mobile plan. The service is able to achieve this by using the individual’s Internet connection to make the call. Here's how to get started with making voice and video calls through WhatsApp.

First appearing in the App Store in 2009, WhatsApp was purchased by Facebook in 2014. s can it for free -- whether from the App Store, the Google Play Store, or directly from the WhatsApp website -- and have the ability to send messages, make voice recordings, and more, all on an international scope. s can chat or talk with each other one-on-one, or they can create a recently added an information hub which enables s to learn about the pandemic. Other recent updates include new privacy settings to provide greater control over who can add s to a group, along with a call-waiting feature.

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How To Make A Voice Or Video Call

whatsapp logo on a gray background

To make a voice call, tap on the Calls icon -- shaped like a phone -- at the bottom of the screen. Then tap on the phone icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, which features a plus sign next to it. That brings up the New Calls page, and from there, s can scroll down to choose a to talk with. Beside each name, there are phone and video camera icons. Tapping the phone icon will start a voice call, while the camera icon will begin a video chat. Alternatively, s can simply open up a chat -- either a new chat or one they’ve already started -- and find the same icons in the upper right-hand corner. Starting a video call is just as easy. Tap on the phone icon in the upper-right corner, and from the New Call page, tap on the video camera icon.

It’s also possible to switch between voice and video calls. To do this, start a voice call and tap on the camera icon (this will currently have a slash through it). The person on the other end of the call will see the request to switch, and will have the option to either accept or decline. To switch from a video call to a voice call, just tap on the camera button. This notifies the other person that the camera has been turned off, and the video call automatically becomes a voice call. If someone wants to make a group call with WhatsApp, that’s easy, too. Just open up whichever group chat they want, and if the group has five or more people in it, the can tap the Group Call button to begin. With groups of four or less, tap the camera icon to get started. s can also add s to a group call from their list by tapping New Group Call -- located above the list on the New Call page -- and selecting each WhatsApp they wish to add to the call.

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