New whisper feature enhances meeting communication

The latest version 25.2.0 of OpenTalk introduces the new whisper feature for our SaaS offering, providing enhanced communication options for video conferences. This addition allows participants to hold private conversations within ongoing meetings without leaving the main conference.

Whisper groups: Enhanced communication options for professional meetings

The new subroom audio feature, also known as “whispering” allows participants to make confidential arrangements or clarify technical details while remaining connected to the main event. This feature differs from traditional breakout rooms in that it allows participants to follow the main conference at the same time.

It is operated via the participant menu, where other people can be designated as whisper partners or invited to existing groups. Once a whisper group has been established, pressing and holding the W key enables private communication within the group without other conference participants hearing these conversations.

The system works with a structured notification system: invitations are sent immediately, and acceptance or rejection is communicated to the person who sent the invitation. Active group members are marked with corresponding symbols in the participant list, and pending invitations are visualized with hollow symbols.

Application scenarios in public authorities and companies

The whisper group function offers various application possibilities for organizational processes. In administrative authorities, departments can coordinate internally during cross-departmental meetings without interrupting the meeting. Companies benefit from the possibility of spontaneous coordination between project teams during larger meetings or the direct clarification of technical aspects.

Educational institutions can use the feature for individual support during digital courses without distracting other participants. This flexibility transfers proven communication patterns from face-to-face events to the digital work environment.

Additional feature enhancements in version 25.2.0

In addition to whisper groups, the update includes comprehensive optimizations to the platform functionality. A new meeting settings dialog expands the configuration options for moderators and administrators. The voting functions have been revised and now display results more reliably.

User-friendliness has been improved in several areas, particularly in the handling of background effects. These now work stably under Firefox 128, and on Android devices, the aspect ratio is maintained when background blur is enabled. Background images are cropped correctly and no longer appear distorted.

Improved accessibility and user guidance

OpenTalk has further expanded its accessibility features. The main menu now includes direct access to the accessibility statement, and keyboard navigation has been comprehensively optimized. Text fields have been changed from “disabled” to “read-only” to ensure compatibility with screen reader software.

Optimized breakout room functionality

The existing breakout rooms have also been further developed. The system now prevents duplicate actions at startup and optimizes the management of participants in deleted rooms. User duplication is effectively prevented, and the position of participant thumbnails is retained.

Notifications for breakout rooms now work correctly even when browser tabs are inactive, and debriefing notifications remain visible as intended. These optimizations increase reliability when using group work features.

A complete overview of all features and bug fixes can be found in the technical release notes.

Further information on the features of OpenTalk is available here.

Do you have feedback on the new version? Then we look forward to receiving your email at support@opentalk.eu.