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WhatsApp’s latest iOS update finally delivers free voice calling

Published Apr 21st, 2015 5:30PM EDT
WhatsApp Calling
Image: Fast Company

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If you’re an iPhone owner and you’ve been looking for a reason to download WhatsApp, I have good news for you. As of the latest update, voice calling has been added to the iOS version of the app, which means that you can now call friends and family anywhere in the world for free as long as you have an Internet connection.

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The full description of the new WhatsApp Calling feature from the App Store page:

“Call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if they’re in another country. WhatsApp calls use your phone’s Internet connection rather than your cellular plan’s voice minutes. Data charges may apply. Note: WhatsApp Calling is rolling out slowly over the next several weeks.”

According to that last line, you may not have access to the feature immediately, but rather at some point in “the next several weeks” when WhatsApp Calling reaches your device.

Other updates include the ability to share photos, videos and links with iOS 8’s new share extension, a quick camera button that will appear in your chats, and the option to edit your contacts from within WhatsApp.

Of course, Android users have had access to WhatsApp Calling for a few weeks, but Android Police notes that the Android version of the app has also recently been updated to let users report senders as spam. It’s a small addition, but surely a welcome one for frequent users of the chat app.

Download WhatsApp from the App Store

Download WhatsApp from Google Play

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.