WhatsApp unveiled group video calls in 2018, these had become obsolete, allowing a maximum of 4 members. In the middle of 2020 we already had several options that you can use for a video call of this type when you need to make video conferences with friends or even for work. Nevertheless Facebook has put the batteries, probably due to the confinement and how hard these types of applications are hitting now, it has doubled the number to 8 people in its messaging application, WhatsApp.
It had already been leaked that WhatsApp was about to make this expansion of users who can participate in a video call, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself was in charge of announcing the improvement in the app most popular messaging service in the world, highlighting the importance of video calls in this time that we are living, where the distance between the population is of vital importance.
The same Zuckerberg confirmed that this new function would progressively reach the beta version of WhatsApp. So the users of these betas will have already been able to test them. It is from this moment when it improves in group video calls will start to reach everyone with the standard WhatsApp version on iOS y Android in the form of an update.
Applications like Zoom or HouseParty have taken advantage of the current situation to become more popular and take full advantage of the front cameras of our smartphone, due to the need we have to see our friends or family from a distance. But WhatsApp has a great advantage that the others do not have, they are nothing other than its more than two billion users throughout the planet.
How to make group video calls on WhatsApp
There are different ways to form a group video call on WhatsApp, to begin with we must have the application updated to the latest version available, to make sure of this we will have to go to Google Play in case of having an Android terminal and check if we have any updates available, we will do the same in the App Store if you have an iPhone.
How to make a group video call from an individual chat
There are different ways to form a group video call on WhatsApp, to begin with we must have the application updated to the latest version available, to make sure of this we will have to go to Google Play in case of having an Android terminal and check if we have any updates available, we will do the same in the App Store if you have an iPhone.
Start a group video call from a group
To make video calls in an existing group, you will have to press on the icon that appears on the top right in the form of a phone with a +Then you will see the list with the contacts of that group that you have registered in your phonebook. Note that If there are people in the group who are not on your agenda, you will not be able to invite them to be part of the call. Until now, WhatsApp allowed you to add up to three people to the group, but now there will be 7, whatever the number of members of the group, you can only invite seven at a time.
Make the group video call outside of a group
If you don't have the people you want to call in a group, you can still call up to seven of them at the same time. To do this you must go to the calls tab, press the phone icon + and then "new group call"There you will be able to select the contacts you want to call from among all those in your phonebook and then press the camera icon.
If you are receiving a group call, WhatsApp will notify you showing who are the participants who are currently in the conversation. The photo of the caller and the other members will appear. You will have the option to reject it. You must take into account that Even if you or another member leaves the conversation, the rest of the users can continue it if they wish..