First spotted by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp for Android 2.19.9 has received an update that has introduced a group call shortcut, besides fixing the bug causing the GIF functionality.
Voice and video call for group chats was a feature that was introduced by WhatsApp in August 2018. In its initial stages, the process of placing a voice or video call for a group was a cumbersome process that included having to start the call with a single contact first. Once that call was placed, one could add further contacts to the call by tapping the ‘Add Person’ icon that would appear on top of the recipient’s name.
But it is only now that WhatsApp has finally simplified the process and introduced a call button dedicated to the purpose of the group chat itself. Now, all the user has to do is add the participants simultaneously from a slide-out tray with the contact card of all members in a group to make a group call. This feature was introduced to iPhone users in December 2018. This feature was spotted last November in a beta build, and its stable version can now be downloaded from the Google Play store or WhatsApp.com/Android.
The GIF bug, which reportedly broke the app’s GIF tab, has also been fixed through this WhatsApp update.
