Slack now allows all users to make web calls

Slack users are now able to make calls, thanks to an update the company has made to its workplace collaboration communication platform.

The call function is available to desktop and mobile users. Desktop users will see a phone icon in the upper right of the channel header, while mobile users will be able to make calls by tapping the "start a call" icon in the mobile app's channel or direct message drop-down menu.

Slack said in addition to making one-on-one calls, paying users will also be able to make group calls in any channel or group direct message.

The company said it has also added an emjoi response feature into the call function, so that when users are in calls they will be able to click on one of the pre-selected emoji that will display over their avatar with a subtle sound to express approval, disapproval, or raise their hand to ask a question, without interrupting the speaker.

The call function is an extension of the existing communication channels available to users, which include messaging in channels, direct messages, and group direct messages.

Last month, Slack introduced its Sign in with Slack feature to let people use their Slack identity to log in to third party applications linked to the messaging service. The first companies to partner with an integration are cloud-based word processing app Quip, along with Figma, Officevibe, Smooz, and Slackline.

The feature update came after the San Francisco-based firm raised $200 million in venture financing at a post-money valuation of $3.8 billion. The latest financing round took the total funds raised by the firm since April 2014 to a total of $540 million.

Other funding rounds conducted by the company included last December when it launched an $80 million capital funding round; another in April 2015 when $160 million was raised; $120 million raised in October 2014; and $42.8 million in April 2014. Additional funding of $17.2 million was raised prior to the launch of Slack when the company was trading as Tiny Speck and raising for Glitch game. The investments have been supported by Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Social+Capital, KPCB, GV, Horizons Ventures, IVP, Spark, DST, and Index

In March, Slack joined a growing list of international startups to open an Australian office in Melbourne.

CEO and co-founder Stewart Butterfield said the decision to open its sixth global office in Melbourne was to cater for the Asia-Pacific region and time zone.

As of April 2016, the company claimed it had 2.7 million daily active users, 800,000 paid users, and 430 employees.