WhatsApp started rolling out its most expected voice calling feature for Android users few weeks back. We managed to get an invite for this feature. How to enable it? Let us find out. Before that check out the video demo of the WhatApp voice calling feature.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5llgIp4S-hg
First, update WhatsApp to the latest version by heading to whatsapp.com/android. Then, wait for a call from someone who already have the calling feature to call you to unlock it. Once you have the calling feature, you can call other contacts to enable calling for them. If they have an older version of WhatsApp the call will not go through and will say that your friend needs to update the app to receive WhatsApp calls.
There is a technique on XDA forum to enable the calling feature on WhatsApp if your phone is rooted, but according to some it only brings the calling UI. Anyway you can try your luck if you are willing to root your phone at your own risk.
The call quality was decent on WiFi, similar to Skype, but on 3G and 2G it was not the best. This might be due to early roll out, and is expected to get better during public roll out. WhatsApp calling feature is currently available only on Android. It is expected to roll out to other platforms when it rolls out to the public globally.
[Update: 21/2/2015: WhatsApp has currently paused the roll out of calling feature. So you can’t call a person anymore to activate it. It has also rolled back the version from 2.11.531 to 2.11.527. We will update you here once the calling feature roll out again.]
[Update: 16/3/2015: WhatsApp has started rolling out calling feature again. Now you need v2.12.5 from the Google Play or v2.12.7 from the official website. After updating, your friends who have WhatsApp calls can call you to activate it.]
[Update: 31/3/2015: WhatsApp has started rolling out calling feature for all Android users. Now you need v2.12.19 from the official website to make voice calls without invite]