WhatsApp has introduced the ability to join a group call that is already in progress. Even if you "ignore" a group call invitation, you can still go to the "Calls" tab and join from there.

Previously, to join a group call, you had to accept the invitation sent at the start of the call; according to WhatsApp, you can now join a group call.

"Today (July 19), we are introducing the ability to join a group call even after the call has started. The joinable call reduces the burden of answering at the start of a group call and brings the spontaneity and ease of a face-to-face conversation to group calls on WhatsApp," the company said

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To support this new feature, the call info screen will be refreshed so you can see who is on the call before joining it. Thus, if there is an annoying uncle you do not want to talk to, you can always wave off the invitation. This screen also allows you to see others who have been invited to the call but have not yet joined, so you won't get any nasty surprises during the call.

The messaging platform was keen to emphasize that it would provide the expected level of security and end-to-end encryption to ensure that video calls would still be kept very private WhatsApp announced earlier this year that users would be able to use the new privacy terms, and that it would not offer key features unless users agreed to them.

Joining a WhatsApp call that has already started couldn't be easier: go to the "Calls" tab in WhatsApp and you will see a list of ongoing calls that you can join.

Here you can also see who is currently on a call and who has received an invitation to join the call. To join, tap on the call info.

You can immediately join the call and get updates on what you missed, whether you are meeting with friends, family, colleagues, or anyone else.