WhatsApp voice calling feature for iOS is coming in a "couple of weeks" but without exact date yet, said WhatsAppe co-founder Brian Acton. Steps on how to use a WhatsApp for iOS with voice calling feature went viral in the net. And India consdering to regulate web-based messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, etc
Until now, there has not been a WhatsApp messenger with a voice calling feature that can be downloaded for iOS devices. But this is going to change soon as a voice calling feature for iOS is reportedly coming.
At Facebook's F8 developer's conference in San Francisco, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who was on the panel together with Instagram cofounder Mike Krieger and head of Facebook Messenger David Marcus, reportedly said that a voice calling feature on WhatsApp is coming in a "couple of weeks", according to reports by VentureBeat.
Acton was then asked further by VentureBeat after the panel session for a confirmation about his "couple of weeks" statement and he reportedly said "yes" but backtracked a little and said, "Well, several weeks." Other reports consider Acton's overall statements for the WhatsApp to be ambiguous.
The voice calling feature of WhatsApp was first introduced for Android devices through a limited beta version. This app allows users to exchange messages without paying for SMS.
Recently, a screenshot has been circulating around the web that is reportedly showing that the WhatsApp voice calling feature can be used for an iOS device. But, it requires a jailbroken iPhone. The Fuse Joplin also showed at least four steps on how to use WhatsApp for iOS.
While the majority of the global population is at craze about the voice calling feature of WhatsApp, a report by The New Indian Press stated that a telecom regulator in India has just started processing a regulatory framework for messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, and Google Talk. These four are considered as over-the-top (OTT) players.
Sudhir Gupta, secretary of Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI), reportedly said, "Worldwide, there is an ongoing debate among governments, industry and consumers regarding regulations of OTT services and Net-neutrality. In this background, TRAI today released a consultation paper on regulatory framework for OTT services."
The planned regulation, however, was disagreed by OTT players and defended themselves by pointing to the ease of service they give to Internet access and web-based services without giving obstacles to community and national growth.
Telecom operators in India have expressed their concern that the OTT players are consuming their revenue without investing in networks. Airtel has even earned huge public criticism in India due to its plan to charge separately for VoIP calls, which is considered to be against Net-neutrality principles. However, there is yet no existing Net-neutrality legislation in India.
The planned regulatory framework is still subject for debate and TRAI is seeking public views for the matter by April 24 and counter comments by May 8.
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