On August 23, 2025, it became public that WhatsApp is working on a new function: the ability to leave a voice message if the person you are calling does not pick up. With this step, the messenger moves closer to the concept of traditional voicemail, but in a format adapted to the needs of modern digital communication, reports G.business.
The update changes what happens after a missed call. Instead of only seeing the usual option to call back, users are now presented with three buttons: “Call Back,” “Cancel,” and “Record Voice Message.” The last option allows the caller to immediately leave an audio message instead of dialing again. The same choice also appears directly in the chat window with the contact, making the process quicker, more integrated, and easier to use than before.
Until now, WhatsApp users could only send voice messages by manually pressing the microphone icon inside a chat. The new system significantly reduces the number of steps: a message can be recorded and sent directly after a failed call. In this way, the feature resembles the classic voicemail system that mobile operators have offered for decades, but re-imagined within a global messenger app.
The feature has appeared in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android (2.25.23.21) and is currently available only to a limited group of beta testers. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has not yet provided an official launch date for all users. However, industry observers expect that the voicemail function will gradually be rolled out worldwide in upcoming updates.
Experts highlight several advantages of the new system. For everyday users, it reduces the frustration of unanswered calls and makes it easier to share urgent information quickly. For business users, the benefits are even more apparent: it saves valuable time, avoids endless callbacks, and ensures that important details can be communicated immediately without waiting for the recipient to respond. In addition, it strengthens WhatsApp’s competitive position against traditional mobile network operators, where voicemail has long been a standard feature.
Industry analysts also believe the change could have broader effects on communication behavior in messenger apps. The ability to leave voicemail messages directly within WhatsApp may increase the popularity of audio communication while reducing the number of missed or abandoned contacts. With this innovation, WhatsApp continues to position itself not just as a chat application, but as a comprehensive communication hub that increasingly rivals both traditional telephony and other messenger platforms.
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