"WhatsApp's new VoIP calling feature Screenshots leaked online"

Soon after Facebook acquired WhatsApp, the CEO of the messaging service revealed that it will soon be adding VoIP calling to the app, rivalling existing players like Skype and Viber. Leaked screenshots of an internal version of WhatsApp for iOS show this feature in action.The screenshots, embedded in full below, from Italian Apple blog iPhoneItalia purport to show an in-call screen from WhatsApp, which sports a very similar design to Apple’s updated iOS 7.1 in-call screen for the default Phone app, with options to mute the microphone, switch to messages, turn on the speakerphone or end the call with the contact’s name and photo shown above.

The interface for calling closely resembles the default iOS 7 Phone app, with round buttons for mute, message, speaker and end call, all placed on a blurred background. Another change that can be noticed from the screenshots is the addition of a new Camera icon beside the text field, to make it easier to send photos.
whatsapp keyboard

Whatsapp Calls

The call can be initiated by a open chat or opening a on the fly, the user’s permission to use the iPhone’s microphone. The number will be dialed automatically for the person you want to contact and at the top we’ll see his name, phone number and even the icon with his picture. At the top is the “WhatsApp Call” reports, and  bottom of the interface has “Mute”, “messages” and “Speaker” buttons. The calls are free, and you can maintain them both over WiFi and 3 g network.

In addition to calls, WhatsApp introduced in the latest version of its app a new button for the camera to take a photo or capture a video on the go.

WhatsApp is the #1 app, the one getting most web traffic and possibly becoming more popular than Facebook in a few years, by adding VoIP features will possibly mean telcos voice plans will be less relevant and mobile data plans will be the most important feature when you sign up for a plan. Wireless carriers would be shaking in fear as the herd slowly realizes that the carriers are nothing but a dumb pipe and data will be the most important feature. It’s so obvious, data plans have been getting more and more expensive for less and less data.

The voice calling feature would likely be free, and available on Cellular as well as WiFi. While FaceTime Audio has been pretty good for voice calls, WhatsApp’s voice calling would across platforms.