WhatsApp reveals a new voice chat feature for large groups, similar to Discord

WhatsApp is launching a new voice chat feature aimed at improving large group voice calls. First seen in beta, the feature is now officially announced and will be rolled out on both iOS and Android in the coming weeks.

The voice chat feature differs from the current group voice call feature with a new notification system. Instead of automatic ringing, users will receive a push notification and an in-chat bubble to join the voice chat. During a chat, participants can access call controls from the top of the chat, allowing them to send text messages at the same time. The chats will also be end-to-end encrypted, similar to personal messages on WhatsApp, and can accommodate up to 32 participants. If this sounds familiar, it's because we've already seen quite similar features in alternatives like Discord, Telegram, or Slack, which have been superior to WhatsApp for spoken communication in large groups so far.

The initial rollout will focus on larger group chats with 33 to 128 participants, and it is designed to manage the number of participants, ensuring not everyone in a group can join a voice chat simultaneously.