Benzinga | Mar 4, 2021 12:43PM EST

WhatsApp's Desktop Version Gets Audio And Video Calling Features: Reuters

* Facebook Inc's (NASDAQ: FB)-owned WhatsApp added voice and video calling feature on its desktop version, Reuters reports.

* Users will be able to use desktop screens for end-to-end encrypted calls in both portrait and landscape mode.

* The initiative would put WhatsApp on par with video-conferencing majors Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) and Alphabet Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google Meet.

* Video calling gained immense prominence during the pandemic following a shift in remote working. However, it is unclear if Facebook intends to compete with the two players.

* WhatsApp also benefitted from the higher informal calls during the pandemic. Reportedly, it recorded 1.4 billion voice and video calls on last New Year's Eve.

* It is worth noting that ARK Investment Management bought 255,621 shares of Zoom Media on Tuesday and 89,672 shares on Wednesday for its flagship ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKK).

* Price action: FB shares are up 2.13% at $260.84, and ZM shares are up 0.68% at $343.89 on the last check Thursday.