WhatsApp to get join missed calls, biometric lock, new calls feature soon

WhatsApp is arguably one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. In the past couple of weeks, reports have detailed a number of new features that the company has been working on. Now, a new report talks about more such features that will be making their way to WhatsApp in the coming days.

First in line is the new Calls feature for WhatsApp Web. The Facebook-owned messaging app is said to be working on a feature that will enable users to make voice and video calls using WhatsApp Web. Now, as per a new report by WABetaInfo, the company has released a new beta update that brings this functionality to WhatsApp Web.

When the new calling functionality is available in WhatsApp Web, users will see two icons, one for video call and the other for a voice call, on top opposite to where the name of the contact is displayed. When users get a call, they will see a large dialog box that displays the name of the contact along with the options to accept, decline or ignore the call. On the other hand, when users call someone, they will see a much smaller dialog box that shows the status of the call. This feature is also being tested for group calls.

The second feature that the company is working on is called Join Missed Calls. This feature, as the name suggests, enables users to join a missed group call if the call hasn’t been closed. This feature, however, is still in the development phase.

Lastly, the company is also working on adding improvements to the biometric lock feature. This update will be particularly useful for the Android smartphone users. As of now, WhatsApp offers FaceID as a biometric security option to unlock the app. On the Android smartphones, the fingerprint sensor does the same task. However, this poses a problem if the Android smartphone has a face recognition system but not the fingerprint sensor. Now, word is that the company is overhauling this system to offer a biometric authentication system in Android devices that will make use of the available biometric security feature, that is the face recognition system or the fingerprint sensor, to unlock the app. And if a phone has both, WhatsApp will reportedly let users use any of these features to unlock the app. This feature is also in the development phase and it will be available in the app in future.