In brief
- The host needs an account; guests join from a computer.
- This is a calling feature, not anonymous access to chats.
- The announcement does not specifically confirm availability in Mexico.
A call should not start with installing another app
You want to talk to someone, but first you have to work out which app everyone uses. That little negotiation can take longer than the conversation. WhatsApp wants to skip part of it by letting you invite people who do not have an account.
Meta announced guest calling on October 14. The host still needs WhatsApp: they create a link from the Calls tab and share it. The guest opens it in a browser on their computer, enters their name and waits to be let in.
This does not open up all of WhatsApp to people without accounts. Guests can join the call, but cannot send messages or see other participants’ phone numbers. The host controls who gets in.
Easier to join, but availability is not guaranteed
Calls are free, with no announced time limit. For a family chat or a quick discussion with a colleague, the benefit is simple: less setup before you can talk.
There is a caveat for those of us in Mexico: the announcement does not list countries or confirm that the option is active on every account in Mexico. It also does not describe guest access from a phone browser. Before arranging an important call, check that the link works for the other person.
If it works for both of you, that may be the best part of the change: less time explaining how to connect and more time talking.
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