WhatsApp users will now be able to share their screens during video calls. This innovative feature aims to enrich the video-calling experience on the platform and positions WhatsApp in direct competition with established video conferencing applications like Microsoft Meet, Google Meet, Zoom, and Apple's FaceTime.
The unveiling of this new functionality was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg via a post on Facebook and his Instagram channel.
The feature enables users to seamlessly share a variety of content during their video calls, including documents, images, and even shopping selections. This represents a significant step forward in making conversations more interactive and content-rich.
Screen sharing on WhatsApp was initially released for select Android beta testers in the latter part of May. The process of initiating screen sharing involves simply tapping or clicking on the designated "Share" icon. Users are then presented with the option to share either a specific application or their entire screen, mirroring the functionality of established video-conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom.
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As reported by TechCrunch, WhatsApp has revealed that the rollout of the screen-sharing feature will occur gradually, spanning across Android, iOS, and Windows Desktop platforms. Therefore, its availability may not be immediate but should become accessible to users in the near future.
Additionally, WhatsApp has introduced support for video calls in Landscape mode. This feature aims to provide users with a broader and more immersive viewing experience compared to the existing Portrait mode. The introduction of Landscape mode complements the screen-sharing feature, offering users a more comprehensive visual context during their shared content interactions.
Although video calling has been a staple of WhatsApp for over six years, with its inception for all users in November 2016, the platform continues to evolve its offerings to remain competitive. Notably, WhatsApp recently integrated picture-in-picture support for video calls on iOS and introduced the ability to share succinct video messages within chats. These enhancements acknowledge the growing importance of video as a key communication medium.