WhatsApp launches web calling alongside new features: call transfer, waiting room

WhatsApp users gained the ability to conduct voice and video calls through the web application on July 28, 2026. Alongside this primary integration, the platform introduced several auxiliary tools, specifically call transfer functionality and a virtual waiting room feature. This expansion marks a shift for the platform, which previously restricted real-time communication to mobile and dedicated desktop applications.

Meta, the parent organization, officially introduced these features to the web interface to align web-based utility with mobile capabilities. According to The Verge, Engadget, and TechCrunch, the new calling infrastructure maintains end-to-end encryption, ensuring that web-based sessions mirror the privacy standards established for mobile conversations. 9to5Google notes that these additions are designed to improve the consistency of the user experience across hardware platforms.

While the release confirms support for direct calls and the inclusion of call transfer and waiting room tools, coverage does not yet specify if these features will be immediately available to all global regions or if a phased rollout is planned. Furthermore, the technical requirements for browser compatibility and hardware support for these calls have not been detailed. Users are waiting for clarification on whether additional privacy settings are required to enable these web-based features.