[malthaus]

but most phone numbers you are clicking on a web page (the cited use case) won't have a whatsapp account behind it

[nathancahill]

No, overseas most do and it's endless frustrating right now:

1. Long press on the phone number, but don't tap it otherwise it calls

2. Choose Copy phone number

3. Create a contact

4. Refresh WhatsApp by quitting and reopening

5. Find the contact on WhatsApp and call

If you're calling multiple companies for bookings or quotes, repeat this over and over.

[tigroferoce]

Apple is to blame for many things, but the fact that if whatsapp has access to your contact list you can't start a conversation with any phone number in an easy way is entirely up to them.

This said, it's good to see that apple is slowly adding things so basic that it's baffling they are not there since years.

[nalinidash]

Do not know things on Iphone side but in android I justs end the device to myself and click the number,then it gives option to chat via whatsapp.

[trotro]

FYI you can go to wa.me/<phone-number> on your browser to start a WhatsApp conversation without having to create a new contact.

[onlygoose]

Even more, there are convenient Shortcuts for messaging a number on WhatsApp quickly, implemented through the same wa.me OpenURL action.

[malthaus]

not the case in europe at all, hence my comment. you guys should travel more.

[Mashimo]

Are you sure about that?

Could imagine that countries like India the majority of buisneses also have an whatsapp account.

Never tried it, but it seems that calling a regular non-account via whatsapp will still work. But routed through watsapp servers. If someone can confirm or deny that, would be cool.

[dubcanada]

That's hugely incorrect, most of Asian, Europe have whatsapp numbers listed, not phone numbers.

[mzsmyk]

That doesn’t really align with my experience in Europe or Japan - do you have a particular country in mind?

[malthaus]

that's 100% wrong, i live in europe in a whatsapp country and no listed phone number EVER has an associated whatsapp account

so don't downvote me if you're in india and certain countries in sa asia where that is the case but that's not the whole world outside the us