WhatsApp is said to be working on a new feature that will allow users to make audio chats within the app. The Facebook-owned company has been spotted developing the feature on the latest WhatsApp Beta update for Android, although it is not yet available to beta testers. The move follows recent reports of WhatsApp tweaking and improving its features to enhance the overall user experience.

According to a report by feature tracker WABetaInfo, the new feature, called Audio Chats, will be available within a WhatsApp user’s conversation window. While details of how the feature will work are yet to be revealed, it is likely that users will be able to initiate and participate in audio conversations with their contacts in real time.

The purported feature could be made accessible through the three-dot menu button on the conversation window, which was indicated through a screenshot of the feature shared by WABetaInfo. The image shows a waveform icon placed adjacent to the three-dot menu in the conversation window on the latest WhatsApp beta update for Android.

The feature is demonstrated in action through the screenshots as to featuring a red button end call button for ongoing calls. There also seems to be some additional blank space, that may be utilized by the developers of the platform to contain other utility functions, added the report. The feature tracker also suggests that the space might be utilized to visualize the waveform of ongoing conversations.

The development of the Audio Chats feature comes as WhatsApp has been working to improve its audio-related features. With the Audio Chats feature, WhatsApp is likely to attract users who prefer voice communication over text messaging. This feature could also be useful for businesses that use WhatsApp for customer support or conduct meetings remotely.

Unfortunately, not much is known in terms of the functionality of the new Audio Chats feature that is currently being developed. While it was spotted on the latest Android beta, it is also expected to be developed for iOS devices, as WhatsApp offers the same functionality across platforms.

The Meta-owned instant messaging platform has been spotted working on improving its audio-related features, and the company is also working on the ability to send audio messages that can only be played once. This sounds similar to the view-once image and video-sharing option available on WhatsApp. The platform was also seen working on a short video message feature as well on iOS. 

There’s no word from WhatsApp on when users will gain access to these features, but the fact that they have been spotted in the latest WhatsApp Beta update for Android indicates that the company is actively working on it. WhatsApp has a huge user base, with more than 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. The addition of the Audio Chats feature could further cement its position as one of the most popular messaging apps globally.