Since 1996 it has been possible to get in touch vocally with an interlocutor, remotely, through the Internet and without additional costs. At the time, the miracle was possible through the progenitor of all the so-called "instant messaging" programs: ICQ. Then came Microsoft with its own Netmeeting, Then Messenger. He didn't watch Yahoo!, which released its version in 1998 and opened the instant messaging battle.
However, these services had the major drawback of forcing the user to get in front of the computer with headphones and a microphone to make a free call. With the advent of the first smartphones and the first dedicated applications, there was a new push towards the creation of these software which, thanks to mobile devices, could be released from the use of headphones and microphones.
Were born Skype or Whatsapp, Viber, LINE, WeChat, GTalk and many other free calling systems. Even in this period, however, the boom in free phone calls was limited by the fact that not all users chose the same service, not everyone kept the programs active during normal PC or smartphone activities and only using the same interface was the call free and, in some cases, the availability was ensured only after starting the application.
In short, a different app was needed, installed by everyone and active from the moment the cell phone was turned on until it was turned off. In 2009 it was launched WhatsApp which came to allow you to record voice messages and send them to your interlocutor, then waiting for an answer. Today this app has 700 million monthly active users worldwide and is perhaps the most widespread of all. It is certainly the best candidate for the definitive abandonment of traditional pay phone calls since it has been enriched with the "voice call in real time" function.
Anyone buying a smartphone today certainly has WhatsApp in the list of essential applications to download as soon as possible. The obstacle of having to convince someone to install software on their cell phone and keep it active to receive calls at no cost is therefore overcome. What is missing?
The only drawbacks of this system are certainly the "quality of service" and the dependence on the "robustness of the mobile network" adopted, which are also the reasons that have prompted traditional mobile telephone operators not to raise their shields too much (at least so far ) to the news of the launch of the new feature.
WhatsApp is a data service that exists as long as there is network coverage. And the data flow on the network is guaranteed by the operator, mobile or landline. So the competition is at least relative. Certainly there will be a drop in the volume of calls between the numbers of the various operators, just as there has already been a drop in the volume of text messages (-20% in 2013, -40% in 2014 according to estimates by the Milan Polytechnic) , but the only real concern for stakeholders is on revenues, which however can be covered by the sale of subscriptions and devices.
But, in practice, how do you make a voice call via whatsapp? Nothing could be simpler: just touch the App icon, select the "calls" tab, then touch the phone symbol with the + and select the contact you want to call (however, WhatsApp contacts who use Apple devices, system for which the service is not yet ready).
At that point it will be like making a normal phone call. The recipient will hear their cell phone ring as if they were receiving a call from a landline or from another smartphone. The audio quality of our conversation will be all the better the better the data coverage in the respective places of position of the two interlocutors.
The new feature is active by default, there is no need to upgrade WhatsApp (from version 2.12.19 onwards) nor is it necessary to make any type of subscription via the web or otherwise.
The wave of enthusiasm is currently being exploited, unfortunately, also for a click-baiting campaign which relies on inadequate knowledge of how to activate voice calls. So beware of messages from personal contacts who invite you to go to the "CallWhatsApp.com" site to add the feature.
The page in question is graphically very similar to that of WhatsApp, but it does nothing but try to collect the data of users who end up on the site and serve up pages and pages of advertising as well as pushing the user to spread the invitation to their contacts.
