Meta’s WhatsApp has introduced a screen-sharing feature for video calls, including group calls.
This comes as part of a series of updates this year that introduced video notes, Telegram-like channels, and polls.
The latest addition positions WhatsApp as a viable contender for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams in the context of professional video conferencing.
"Whether sharing documents for work, browsing photos with family, planning a vacation or shopping online with friends, or just helping grandparents with tech support — screen sharing lets you share a live view of your screen during the call, " Meta said in a press release.
The screen-sharing feature had a beta release in May and is now being gradually rolled out on Android, iOS, and Windows. This means that some users may not yet see the feature in their apps.
To use it, users need the latest version of WhatsApp. If you're among those who have the feature, you'll see a new “Share” icon at the bottom of the screen during a video call.
It will give you the option to share your entire screen or just a specific app. However, audio from the apps being shared isn't audible.
In a Facebook post, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a glimpse of the new feature in action by posting a photo of a phone screen where someone was sharing his screen in a WhatsApp group call.
In addition to screen sharing, WhatsApp is also introducing landscape mode to video calls on iOS and Android, promising "a wider and more immersive viewing and sharing experience."
WhatsApp first introduced video calls between two users in 2016 and has since expanded its product offering to include features like group video calls and voice messages.
Edited by Nikola Djuric
