WhatsApp video and voice calls went live in the UAE - quietly and without any official announcement - to the pleasant surprise of mobile phone users in the country, a report in Gulf News stated Wednesday.
According to the WhatsApp website, the calling feature can be used on Android, iPhone, Windows phone and BlackBerry 10. The removal of ban has come as a big relief to more than 2.6 million Indian expatriates in UAE to connect with their friends and families back home.
VoIP services, digital telephone services in which calls are made over the Internet through apps like WhatsApp, Viber and Snapchat, are restricted in the Emirates, and only licensed providers are authorized to offer such services.
The unblocking of the service - which has yet to be identified as temporary glitch or a permanent move - was met with joy across Twitter, leading to a trending "WhatsApp call in the UAE" hashtag.
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The statement continued: "Based on the information that we have at this time, we believe this to be an isolated incident". The FBI special agent in charge updated the press on Wednesday night and said the suspect came into the US on June 16.
The TRA issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that "there is no change" in the UAE's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) policy.
The Gulf New reported that users can now use the voice and video call features when connected to mobile roaming or WiFi network. It also said any such services or application should be subject to the regulatory framework in force in the country. Callers don't consume call minutes to access the service, but data charges may apply.
However, Microsoft video calling service Skype does work in the country.
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