Here is some good news for iPhone users. The hugely popular mobile messaging service WhatsApp will soon introduce a voice calling feature to Apple smartphones. On Tuesday, an update was rolled out for WhatsApp for iOS, thereby implementing the voice calling feature. Now users can download the latest version from Apple app store, but the feature will be available to existing users over the next few weeks.

According to IB Times, for quite some time now, Android users have been enjoying the voice calling feature on WhatsApp, which enables users to make calls through the internet connection on their phone instead of going through the voice plan of the device. This feature is very akin to the calling features on available other messaging apps, such as Skype or FaceTime.

Calling someone on WhatsApp is similar to the manner in which a phone dialer app launches while receiving a direct voice call. In fact, using the app to call someone through WhatsApp will prompt the app to launch when a call is coming in. When a user is on a WhatsApp call, he/ she can mute other calls or put the users on speakerphone. In addition, users are also able to simultaneously send messages or media.

WhatsApp offers free voice calling for one year on Android as well as on iOS. From the second year it charges $0.99 annually. Aside from the voice calls, WhatsApp users will also be able to send messages, pictures, audio notes and video messages.

WhatsApp has released another update recently that enables allows users to back up their conversations, contacts, photos, music as well as other data to Google Drive.

It is worth noting that Facebook currently owns WhatsApp, which has more than 800 million monthly active users. Compared to this, Facebook's own messenger service has roughly 600 million users.

In near future, WhatsApp s plans to make this voice calling feature available to Windows and BlackBerry phones also.