WhatsApp rolls out picture-in-picture video calls to all users

After the roll out of picture-in-picture (PIP) video calls to beta users of its app, WhatsApp has now rolled out the feature to everyone, which means that both Android and iOS users would be now able to minimise video calls to a corner as they browse through other messages in the instant messaging app.

While PIP is new to both iOS and Android users who are on the stable public builds, the coloured text status messages have reached a wider number of users. Users need to simply tap the back button shown in the app to switch to PIP mode once the video call begins.

There is a catch, however, given that the picture-in-picture video calls update will be available only to Android users whose smartphones have been updated to Android 8.0 Oreo, Google's latest and greatest milestone software update. The feature works just fine for iOS users.

The feature works well with WhatsApp build v2.17.322 for Android devices and V2.17.52 for iOS devices and as for the colourful text status updates, users need to bear in mind that they will disappear after 24 hours.

In addition to messaging, WhatsApp has also been in the news for it verified business accounts.

After plenty of leaks, it only recently confirmed that the service will launch soon.

The other new feature, is the ability to write text-only updates as users' WhatsApp status. Earlier, users could be only allowed to put their pictures and video as status updates.

The latest version of the stable WhatsApp build, will allow users to select the background colour and add texts. Though the roll out of the features started slowly in August, they are now generally available on all the stable builds.

WhatsApp also announced the launch of a Business oriented functionality, which maybe a paid feature in future. According to commentators, this is Facebook's attempt to generate revenue from the messaging app. Also in India, WhatsApp is said to be planning a UPI-based payments system.