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WhatsApp, LINE step up game to lure video call users
As video call platforms are currently more popular than ever, WhatsApp and LINE are stepping up their game to attract more users.
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Among the platforms experiencing a significant surge in global usage is teleconferencing app Zoom, however it has been under increasing pressure for lacking security in terms of software encryption. (Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com)
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has made video call platforms more popular than ever, as employees across the globe are forced to work and have meetings with colleagues from their home, and the general public have to make do with an app to reach out to their loved ones and friends due to lockdown and quarantine policies.
Among the platforms experiencing a significant surge in global usage is teleconferencing app Zoom, however it has been under increasing pressure for lacking security in terms of software encryption.
Popular messaging service WhatsApp recently tried to offer an alternative by expanding the maximum number of participants for its group call feature from four to eight people. However, this is still tiny compared to Zoom, which supports up to 100 on its free plan.
Those with plenty of WhatsApp contacts will soon be able to have video calls with up to 50 people though, thanks to an upcoming feature that integrates the app with Facebook Messenger Rooms. According to TNW, WhatsApp users will be able to simply click on a shortcut to be directed to Messenger Rooms whenever they want to video call more than eight people -- with a warning that the conversation will not be end-to-end encrypted. Users without a Facebook account will reportedly also be able to use this feature.
Meanwhile messaging platform LINE announced on Wednesday that its group video call feature, which was first launched in March 2016, can now support up to 200 people at the same time. Freely available, users should only make sure that they are using these versions for this feature to work: LINE iOS 6.9 or higher, LINE Android 6.9.2 or higher, and LINE Desktop (Windows) 5.0.0 or higher. (kes)
