WhatsApp to let non-users join calls without an account

A WhatsApp user could soon call someone who has never opened the app. The feature, spotted inside a beta build of WhatsApp for Android tagged 2.25.22.13, extends the company's existing call-link tool to people who don't have an account at all, no install, no sign-up, just a browser tab.

From the Calls tab, the host selects a call type and duplicates the link as would be done for any normal call. All those that click the duplicated link will find themselves at WhatsApp Web, where there is the call interface even without having an account.

However, it’s not that easy. For WhatsApp, they have put in measures to ensure that the host manually approves all guests before the call can start, a feature which the company has incorporated since they cannot confirm the actual user of the link.

Reportedly, the call would be encrypted the same way as any other chat through the app. Once the user clicks on the link, the WhatsApp Web creates the session identifier, which serves as an encryption key.

An account is not required to create the key; the browser session is sufficient to do the trick. This is the exact method used by WhatsApp for guest chats, which started testing in August last year on Android.

The two aspects have a similar base but differ in execution. Guest chat is an asynchronous process; there is a period of 10 days for the conversation to remain valid without any action. Guest calling has no such duration. As soon as the call is over, that’s it, and there is nothing more to review.

A host retains all the powers that they possess regarding any call. They can deny the participation request, kick out anyone disturbing the call, or simply terminate the entire call. The feature has not been announced by WhatsApp for any further date.