According to reports, WhatsApp, the ubiquitous messaging app owned by Facebook, is about to take a major evolutionary step; the addition of the video calling feature.
The imminent release of this feature was stipulated when photos were leaked on German Apple blog. There is expected to be the addition of multiple messaging tabs that enable dynamic switching between a user's favorite chats, along with popular messaging platforms like Viber, Skype and FaceTime.
According to the post, the latest version of WhatsApp (v2.12.16.2) will include the ability to send or receive video calls directly over WiFi or mobile internet connection. Above the video feed from the caller, users will be able to see a preview of their own face in a small window, much like FaceTime. The preview window on the screen can also be repositioned based on the user's needs and standard controls such as switching between front-facing and rear cameras and muting the microphone will also be possible.
With the multiple chat tabs, a user can dynamically switch between chats without having to revert back to the app's chat list.
The latest build suggests that WhatsApp video calling is likely to hit the app store with the next update. Audio calling (VoIP) on WhatsApp has been available since March, 2015.