How to Use the Whatsapp Call Awaiting Feature

 

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.