A fresh feature named Voice Chat has surfaced in WhatsApp’s beta channel, as highlighted by the WABetaInfo portal. The discovery points to ongoing experimentation with communication tools on the platform and signals WhatsApp’s push toward richer voice interactions within groups.
The details show this innovation appearing in the latest Android beta, version 2.23.7.12. In a group chat, a new voicemail-like icon sits alongside the existing video call button. Tapping this icon reveals a menu that includes the option to start a group voice call and the option to initiate a voice chat. At this stage, there is no official clarification about what Audio Chats will entail beyond these initial indicators.
From a usage perspective, Voice Chats are expected to empower groups to conduct live voice broadcasts without requiring every participant to switch to a separate call instance. This mirrors capabilities seen on other platforms such as Telegram and Clubhouse, where broadcast style voice sessions can reach multiple participants simultaneously within a group setting.
The feature is described as still under development, with no concrete timeline for a public release or a list of supported platforms beyond the current Android beta. The absence of a formal rollout plan means users should not expect immediate access on their devices, as developers continue refining the experience.
As part of the broader WhatsApp feature cadence, earlier reports noted that iOS users began receiving short video messages in some builds. That information, reported by industry watchers, illustrates WhatsApp’s continued experimentation with multimedia messaging features across platforms. The current Voice Chat probe sits alongside those efforts, suggesting a wider strategy to blend voice and video communications into a seamless, app-wide experience for groups.
Until official confirmation arrives, the beta trail remains the best way to observe how Voice Chats may influence how groups coordinate, share information, and stay connected in real time. The potential to host live voice discussions inside group chats could offer a more flexible alternative to traditional voice calls, especially for larger groups where managing participants during a call can be cumbersome. Users watching this space should expect incremental releases that gradually unlock more controls, privacy settings, and performance optimizations as WhatsApp tests the feature with real-world usage across diverse Canadian and American audiences.