9th August 2023, Mumbai: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new feature for WhatsApp that allows users to share their screen during a video call. The feature is cross-platform compatible, enabling users to easily show a live view of their screen to one or more persons on the call.
“Whether sharing documents for work, browsing photos with family, planning a vacation or shopping online with friends, or just helping grandparents with tech support – screen sharing lets you share a live view of your screen during the call,” reads WhatsApp’s press release
Process to access
To use the feature, users need to have the latest versions of WhatsApp installed. During a video call, they will see a new ‘Share’ icon at the bottom of the screen. By tapping on it, they will be asked to grant screen share access. Their screen will then be streamed to the other party.
Do note that the feature is being rolled out in a phased manner. While some may already be seeing it on their WhatsApp, others may have to wait a bit longer.
The feature also supports landscape mode for video calls. This can be useful when sharing the screen from desktop platforms for a wider and more immersive viewing experience.
WhatsApp’s screen-sharing works for group calls as well. It can therefore make WhatsApp more versatile in professional settings. Users who previously relied on apps like Google Meet and Zoom for screen sharing can now use WhatsApp for the same purpose.
New landscape feature for vedio calls
Additionally, WhatsApp is introducing a landscape interface for video calls on mobile, aiming to provide users with a more expansive and immersive viewing and sharing experience. This move aligns with WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to offer enhanced and versatile communication options to its global user base.
Includes Vedio notes and polls
This feature is part of a series of updates rolled out this year by WhatsApp, including the integration of video notes and polls. These advancements are designed to maintain WhatsApp’s competitive edge in the face of growing competition from messaging platforms such as Telegram, Signal, and potentially Discord.
The deployment of the screen-sharing feature has been a gradual process, initially emerging in beta versions of WhatsApp’s app across various platforms, as reported by WABetaInfo, a source known for spotting impending WhatsApp features ahead of official announcements. While the feature’s beta rollout has extended to Android, iOS, and Windows versions, Meta is yet to provide a comprehensive list of platforms where the screen-sharing functionality is officially available.
ASC Priya