How to Use the Whatsapp Call Awaiting Feature
We have all dealt with getting multiple calls at one time
and watching our phone either go haywire or the other call be disconnected.
When you’re already in one call and another person tries calling you, mobile
phone services should technically let you know there’s a call waiting and keep
it on standby. However, very few VOIP services actually offer this – and until
recently WhatsApp wasn’t one of them.
Previously, if somebody called you while you were on another
WhatsApp call, they would hear the connecting tune ring and then get
disconnected. This led to assumptions of the other person not answering,
instead of being busy on another call.
You, on the other hand, wouldn’t even know that you were
getting a call in the background until you hung up. Only then would WhatsApp
show a notification of a “missed call”.
Finally realizing upon the need of the hour, WhatsApp
introduced the call awaiting feature; first across iOS which was shortly
followed by the Android release.
About WhatsApp’s Call
Awaiting Feature
Now owned by Facebook, WhatsApp released the much-needed
call awaiting feature to help users better manage multiple calls at one time.
It notifies callers of any background calls they may receive without cutting
the current call and further allows them to accept it.
Upon declining the new call, the background callers would be
notified of you being in another call. This clears up any confusion or
miscommunications that may arise before.
If you choose to accept the new call, your current call is
immediately disconnected and a new call with the second caller is initiated.
Unfortunately, there are no call holding options currently
available on WhatsApp so one of the calls will be disconnected for you to
attend the other.
How Does it Work?
Activated by default through the update version 2.19.52 for
Android users, the call awaiting feature will only be noticeable when you’re
already on a call and get another one. This new update comes with a completely
renovated UI for incoming calls.
On its blog, the communications app clearly defined
easy-to-follow instructions on how to activate the new feature on Android and
iOS. Be sure to have your WhatsApp application updated to be able to use all
new features.
Getting a Call on WhatsApp
When you get the other call, you will see two buttons on
your phone’s screen accompanied by vibration to signify the call. These two
buttons will allow you to pick between “Decline”, in red on the left, and “End
and Accept”, in green on the right.
Getting a Call from Any Other Application
If you end up receiving a call directly over your phone’s network or even from any
other application like Facebook Messenger while on a WhatsApp voice or video
call, the options are a little different.
Your screen will show:
·
End and Accept: Your
current call will be ended immediately and the connection shifted to the
incoming call.
·
Hold and Accept: Your
current call will be placed on hold and the incoming call accepted. Bear in
mind that the person on the other end won’t be made aware of this so you will
need to tell them before pressing on this option.
·
Decline: The incoming call
is declined and you remain on your current call. The second caller gets the
busy ringtone.
Extra Calling Feature
An extremely useful new feature that WhatsApp tested out was
the “Screen call” option. While still not officially launched, it lets you have
Google Assistant screen you call. This includes asking who the caller is as
well as the purpose behind the call.
Other New Additions in the Update
One of the best features rolled out in this new update is
allowing you to control who can add you on WhatsApp groups. No more getting
random messages and having your inbox gets filled up by spam-y groups that send
200+ texts in a day (yes we’ve all been through that horror).
To make full use of this, go to:
Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups
Another great update was integrating the fingerprint option
to open WhatsApp. This helps you increase privacy immensely and acts as an
extra shield against hackers, along with the encryption.
To activate fingerprint on your WhatsApp, go to:
Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint
Then click on enable Unlock with fingerprint and follow the
instructions given further.
Since some users had issued complaints about the application
draining battery too fast, WhatsApp also addressed this. Some relevant changes
were made in the inner workings to fix the issue of abnormally fast battery
drainage on some devices.
In Conclusion
Constant upgrades and new features are key to the success of
any application. WhatsApp realizes this extremely well and shows it by
listening to users’ concerns and then making the appropriate changes to fix
them.
By paying attention to user reviews and the complaints sent
it, WhatsApp incorporates and releases relevant features constantly. This has
allowed it to continue being one of the biggest communications platforms
currently being used with over 2 billion
minutes being spent per day on WhatsApp voice and video calls.
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