Observed Signal · May 1, 2025 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
WhatsApp to Enable Web-Based Video & Voice Calls
WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging app, plans to bring video and voice calling directly to web browsers, allowing users to start and join calls without the desktop app. The update, reported by WEBetaInfo, would enable a Web Client to support calls across major browsers, though an official rollout date has not been announced. Currently, desktop calling requires the Windows or macOS apps. WhatsApp is also expanding its calling features: video calls can include up to 32 participants, with speaker focus and audio sharing during screensharing, and users can choose backgrounds and filters. Meta executives Mark Zuckerberg and Eva Chen demonstrated hands-free video calls using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. In addition, WhatsApp has added Enhanced Chat Privacy and integrated Perplexity’s AI Answering Machine within chats. The development signals deeper cross-device calling and AI-enabled experiences inside the WhatsApp ecosystem.
Technical Release from Major Platform (Meta) enabling web-based calls on WhatsApp.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- WhatsApp plans to enable video and voice calls directly in web browsers.
- WEBetaInfo reports a future Web Client with browser-based calls; no official start date yet.
- Web calls are expected to work across Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox; Comet by Perplexity mentioned.
- Current WhatsApp video calls support up to 32 participants, with 21 background options and 10 filters, plus audio sharing during screensharing.
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses enable hands-free video calls; demonstrations by Mark Zuckerberg and Eva Chen; Enhanced Chat Privacy and Perplexity AI Answering Machine added.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mappedOntology Mapping & Concepts
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
WhatsApp Web Adds Audio and Video Calling
WhatsApp Web now supports native audio and video calls directly in the browser for one-to-one and group conversations, removing the need for a smartphone or separate desktop app. The update brings app-like features — a Calls tab with history and favorites, screen sharing, emoji reactions — and keeps calls end-to-end encrypted. Users can transfer active calls between devices without hanging up, and hosts can enable waiting rooms that require approval before participants join group-call links. Call-quality upgrades include QuickHD for faster high-definition video startup and background noise suppression. Meta is rolling the features out globally in stages; the rollout was reported by t3n on 2026-07-29 and complements username-based contact options.
AWNY, Jupiter Fest Spotlight Agentic Ads and Open Web
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ICANN Receives 1,615 New Top-Level Domain Applications
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has accepted applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) for the first time since 2012. A total of 1,615 applications were submitted by 481 applicants, with a strong focus on AI-related domains. Ten companies, including Meta and OpenAI, applied for .agent, seven for .agi, and six for .asi. Meta filed 21 applications, including .instagram and .threads, while OpenAI filed 15, including .chatgpt and .codex. German entities like Adidas, Biontech, and Allianz also applied for brand-specific domains. The application fee can be up to $227,000 per domain. The article also highlights the financial success of country-code TLDs like .ai, which earned Anguilla about €59 million by November 2025.
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