Signal app will now let you make video calls on Android and iOS

Open Whisper Systems’ popular encrypted communication app Signal is getting a major update in the form of video calling. The video calling feature, coming on both Android and iOS apps, claims to improve the voice call quality as well. Voice quality has been an issue in the apps current avatar. The update is being rolled out gradually, so don’t fret if you have not yet got it. To enable the video calling feature, you will need to navigate Signal Settings > Advanced > Video calling beta. The video calling will work between only those Signal users who have the Video calling beta option selected. Along with the video calling feature, the iOS version of the app will also come support the feature called CallKit. This feature offers a native calling experience to VoIP calls. It makes Signal act like a regular phone app. Which means, you can answer calls even from the lock screen, and the call logs will be seen under the ‘Recent Calls’ list. If CallKit is enabled in iOS 10, then some of this data such as who was called and how long the call lasted, may be synced to iCloud. Now, for an app which has been recommended by none other than NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden, and which is known for its encryption chops, this sharing of data is almost a breach of privacy. CallKit is optional and so is the video calling feature, and users will need to activate it to use it. You can opt-out of the CallKit features at any time in Settings > Advanced > Use CallKit Speaking to Wired, Open Whisper System’s founder Moxie Marlinspike said that the handling of CallKit is not a fully resolved issue yet. He suggested that in the future, the app could only display calls from Signal users in the iPhone call log, to protect user privacy.