A noteworthy update has recently emerged from Microsoft. In their official post, the tech giant unveiled a new proposal enabling web applications to send incoming call notifications via the Notifications API.
Microsoft aims to expand the Notifications API to support incoming call standards, allowing customization of incoming call buttons. According to their proposal, VoIP application developers can utilize the suggested “scenario” property within existing option parameters to identify whether a notification is for an incoming call.
The “scenario” property can accept two values: incoming call and default, with potential additions like alarms and reminders.
Notifications with the scenario “incoming call” will naturally receive higher priority. For those curious, Microsoft has provided an image illustrating how these notifications will appear on the web using Edge.
With this proposal, Microsoft seems intent on matching features already offered by other platforms for VoIP users. For instance, Android provides the CallStyle notification template starting from Android 12 (API level 31), which prominently displays caller information and offers actions like “Answer” and “Reject” for incoming calls. On iOS, CallKit allows VoIP applications to display incoming calls with an interface identical to the device’s native Phone app.
This development suggests that Edge could soon facilitate direct call answering from specific websites, such as WhatsApp Web. However, this news has sparked mixed reactions among users. While some welcome the feature, others express concerns, arguing that it broadens the browser’s role beyond its traditional scope as a web browser.
On their official page, Microsoft has requested user feedback on this proposal. Users can submit their issues directly via the following GitHub link: here.
The feature is currently being tested on Microsoft Edge for Windows by adding specific targets to the web browser’s application shortcut.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s proposal and concept? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
Via : Microsoft, Neowin
