WhatsApp Calling API: take and place voice calls inside WhatsApp Business
Customers already message you on WhatsApp. Now they can tap Call in the same thread and reach your contact centre, IVR or AI voice agent over the internet – no phone number required and no per-minute carrier charges for the caller. Talkloo delivers WhatsApp Calling on the official WhatsApp Business Platform, integrated with your existing voice routing, DIDs and SIP infrastructure.
What is the WhatsApp Calling API?
The WhatsApp Calling API lets a business receive and place voice calls inside the WhatsApp app using the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API). A customer taps the call icon in your business chat, or your system starts a call after a permission request, and the audio is carried over WebRTC/VoIP rather than the mobile network. Talkloo terminates those calls into the same voice stack that handles your SIP trunks and DID numbers, so you can answer them with an IVR, a queue of human agents, or a Talkloo AI voice agent – and log every call alongside the WhatsApp conversation it came from.
- User-initiated calls: customers call you from the chat with one tap; no number to dial, no international charges.
- Business-initiated calls: request permission in the thread, then call the customer back for sales, verification or support.
- Routing options: IVR, agent queues, SIP forwarding to your PBX or a Talkloo AI voice agent.
- Recording, transcription and analytics tied to the WhatsApp contact record.
- Platform
- Official WhatsApp Business Platform
- Call direction
- Inbound + outbound
- Transport
- VoIP / WebRTC (no carrier minutes)
- Answering
- IVR, agents, AI voice agent
- Integration
- SIP, DIDs, CRM, webhooks
Voice and messaging in one WhatsApp thread
Because Talkloo runs WhatsApp messaging, voice, SIP and AI on one platform, WhatsApp calls are just another leg of the same customer conversation.
Inbound WhatsApp calls
Enable the call button on your WhatsApp Business number. Incoming calls are routed through the Talkloo voice engine exactly like a call to a DID.
Outbound WhatsApp calls
Ask for permission in the chat, then trigger a call from the API, a campaign or a Flow Builder step. Ideal for sales callbacks, KYC and delivery confirmations.
AI voice agent on WhatsApp
Answer WhatsApp calls with a Talkloo AI voice agent that understands intent, checks your systems and hands off to a human with full context when needed.
Recording, transcription & analytics
Every WhatsApp call is recorded (with consent), transcribed and logged on the contact timeline next to the chat messages.
How WhatsApp Calling works on Talkloo
If you already have a WhatsApp Business API number on Talkloo, calling can usually be switched on the same week.
- 1
Enable calling on your WABA number
Talkloo activates the calling feature on your WhatsApp Business Platform number and completes any Meta approval steps.
- 2
Choose how calls are answered
Route to an IVR, an agent queue, an external SIP destination or an AI voice agent – configured in the same voice dashboard used for DID calls.
- 3
Add click-to-call to messages
Insert a Call button in WhatsApp templates so customers can escalate from chat to voice with one tap.
- 4
Measure and optimise
Review answer rates, AI resolution rates and transcripts; adjust routing and prompts without redeploying code.
Start a WhatsApp call from your code
Business-initiated calls use the same voice call endpoint as PSTN calls – only the "channel" changes. Call events arrive on the same webhook as message events.
POST /v1/calls
{
"channel": "whatsapp",
"from": "wa:+14255414212",
"to": "wa:+923001234567",
"answer_with": { "type": "ai_agent", "agent_id": "agt_sales_en" },
"record": true,
"callback_url": "https://yourapp.com/webhooks/calls"
}
// Webhook events
{ "event": "call.ringing", "call_id": "call_9d2a" }
{ "event": "call.answered", "duration": 0 }
{ "event": "call.completed", "duration": 143, "transcript_url": "…" }Where WhatsApp Calling pays off
Customer support escalation
Let customers move from chat to a call without leaving the thread, with full context passed to the agent.
Sales callbacks
Request permission after a product enquiry and call back over WhatsApp instead of an international PSTN call.
KYC and verification
Voice-verify high-value transactions or onboarding on the channel customers already trust.
Delivery coordination
Drivers and customers connect over WhatsApp calls with numbers masked.
International customers
Serve overseas customers without them paying international call rates.
24/7 AI answering
An AI voice agent handles FAQs, bookings and order status around the clock, escalating when needed.
WhatsApp Calling vs traditional phone calls
| WhatsApp Calling (Talkloo) | PSTN / DID calls (Talkloo) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the customer calls | Taps Call in the WhatsApp chat | Dials your DID / toll-free number |
| Caller cost | Data only, no carrier minutes | Carrier rate (free on toll-free) |
| Identity | Verified WhatsApp business profile | Caller ID / number |
| Context | Linked to the chat history | Linked via CRM lookup |
| Answering options | IVR, agents, SIP, AI agent | IVR, agents, SIP, AI agent |
| Best for | Existing WhatsApp customers, international | Universal reach, regulated call flows |
Most Talkloo customers run both, with the same routing rules and the same AI agents.
Frequently asked questions
Can businesses make voice calls on WhatsApp?
Yes. The WhatsApp Business Platform supports voice calling for business accounts. Talkloo enables it on your WhatsApp Business API number so customers can call you from the chat and, with permission, you can call them.
Does WhatsApp Calling use my phone number or minutes?
No. Calls are carried over the internet (VoIP) inside WhatsApp. Customers are not charged per-minute carrier rates and you do not need a separate phone number, although Talkloo can bridge WhatsApp calls to your existing DIDs and SIP trunks.
Can I answer WhatsApp calls with an AI agent?
Yes. Any Talkloo AI voice agent can be set as the answer target for WhatsApp calls. It handles the conversation, performs actions through your APIs and transfers to a human with a transcript when necessary.
Do I need Meta approval for business-initiated calls?
Business-initiated calls require the customer to grant permission within the WhatsApp conversation, following Meta policy. Talkloo manages the permission request and stores the result on the contact record.
Is WhatsApp Calling available in every country?
Availability depends on Meta’s rollout by region. Talkloo will confirm availability for your business number during onboarding and can provide PSTN alternatives where WhatsApp Calling is not yet supported.
Are WhatsApp calls recorded?
Recording and transcription are optional and configurable per route, with consent prompts available. Recordings are stored with the WhatsApp conversation and can be exported through the API.
Turn WhatsApp chats into calls.
Enable calling on your WhatsApp Business number and answer with agents or AI – on the platform that already runs your messaging.