It's been around for a few weeks, but Messenger Rooms is already become one of the most used alternatives to Zoom and Google Meet during block days. However, Facebook wants bring its videoconferencing platform to an even wider audience and what better way to do it than to take advantage of the features of WhatsApp.
Therefore, from today it is already possible to make video calls from Messenger Rooms via WhatsApp. At the moment, yes, the feature is only available in the Web version of WhatsApp
Messenger Rooms arrives on WhatsApp
Messenger Rooms is Facebook's answer to Zoom and Google Meet
Facebook itself has already made clear its intention to integrate Messenger Rooms video calls into WhatsApp. Curiously, this feature arrives on WhatsApp just a few weeks after the brand introduced the ability to make video calls with more than 4 people via the messaging app.
However, Rooms video calls offer greater versatility allowing a maximum of 50 people in each "room", so it's a much more useful tool than WhatsApp video calls when, for example, conducting training sessions or team meetings electronically.
How to start a Messenger Rooms video call on WhatsApp
The process for making a Messenger Rooms video call via WhatsApp is simple. However, it should be borne in mind that this type of video call is not directly integrated into WhatsApp Web, but you will need to exit the web version of the messaging app to be able to video conference. That said, the steps to follow for create a Messenger Rooms on WhatsApp are the following:
- Open WhatsApp Web and log in.
- Enter any chat and click the clip icon in the top right corner.
- Tap the blue “Room” icon with a camera image.
- In the notice that appears on the screen, tap “Go to Messenger”.
- Log into Facebook Messenger and tap "Create Room".
That's all. Now you have created your own room for video calls and you can invite anyone else to join. To do it, you just have to share your room link, available in the participant menu of the room, by sending it via a WhatsApp chat or in any other way.
It is clear that the its operation is a little more confusing than that of the video calls themselves on WhatsApp, where you just press a button to create a call and send an invitation to the conversation participants. Also, keep in mind that the Messenger Rooms video calls are not end-to-end encrypted. However, the advantage of being able to invite up to 49 participants - in addition to ourselves - is the fact that you do not need a Facebook or WhatsApp account to participate in these meetings make Messenger Rooms a very interesting alternative.
