WhatsApp Calling in Sparkforge: Setup, Permissions, and Pricing

WhatsApp Calling brings voice into Sparkforge so you can handle inbound and outbound WhatsApp calls without leaving the CRM. Calls log against the same conversation as chat, with full history attached to the contact record.

Beta access

WhatsApp Calling is currently in beta. Request access by completing the activation form linked from the feature inside your account. Once approved, your sub-account is enabled within 24 hours.

Requirements

• The WhatsApp number must be supported by Meta's WhatsApp Business API.
• Coexistence (WhatsApp App + API on the same number) is not supported.
• The business needs a messaging limit of at least 2,000 business-initiated conversations in a rolling 24-hour window.

Country availability

Inbound (user-initiated) calling works in every region where the Cloud API is available. Business-initiated calls (BIC) are not supported when the business phone number is registered in:

• United States
• Canada
• Turkey
• Egypt
• Vietnam
• Nigeria

Inbound calls

When a customer calls your business via WhatsApp, the alert appears inside the Sparkforge call interface. Accept, decline, or send to voicemail. Call details (time, duration, outcome) attach to the customer's conversation.

Set up a number for calling

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Select Calling.
3. Find the connected number you want to configure and click Manage.
4. Assign a friendly name (for example, "Sales Team").
5. Under Ring WhatsApp Calls To, add users. Set a primary user and add backups.
6. Enable Allow Voice Calls. Turn on Allow People to Request Callback for Missed Calls.
7. Toggle Display Call Button so customers see the option on your business profile.
8. Configure available and temporarily unavailable callers based on team schedule.

Request call permission from customers

WhatsApp requires explicit customer approval before your business can call.

1. Go to Settings → WhatsApp Templates.
2. Create a new template requesting call permission.
3. Under Call-to-Action Buttons, select WhatsApp Call Permissions.
4. Send the template. Customers tap the button to grant permission for 1, 7, 15, or 30 days, or permanently.

Permission rules

• Temporary permission: 7 calendar days (168 hours), no expiry notification, can be requested again after expiry.
• Permanent permission: Does not expire, only the user can revoke it.
• Limits: 1 permission request per contact per day, max 2 requests per 7 days, max 100 connected calls per business number per 24 hours.
• Unanswered calls: 2 in a row triggers a system reminder to the user; 4 in a row revokes permission automatically.

Make and receive calls

1. Open Conversations, pick a contact, and choose WhatsApp as the messaging channel.
2. Send the call permission template (or use a free-form message inside an open service window).
3. Once permission is granted, place the call from the conversation.
4. Add a call disposition (Resolved, Follow-up Required, No Answer) after each call.

Configure staff calling preferences

1. Go to Settings → My Staff, find the user, and click Edit.
2. Open the Calling & Voicemail tab.
3. Set Default Channel for WhatsApp Calls to Mobile App or Web App.

Pricing

User-initiated (inbound) calls are free. Business-initiated calls are billed per minute by destination, in six-second pulses (rounded up). Sample rates:

Calls in Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey, and North America (US/Canada) are not billable for business-initiated calling because BIC is unavailable in those markets.