WhatsApp will become interoperable with other messaging apps

Summary

Meta has announced that WhatsApp users in Europe will soon be able to message people using other messaging services that are interoperable with WhatsApp, due to the interoperability requirements under the Digital Market Acts. This marks a big win as it creates a more equal playing field for smaller messaging services, which will soon have a greater chance of being used. It also signifies a positive change for people in Europe who will have more choice when it comes to how and over which platform they choose to message people. Say hello to chat interoperability! Meta has announced it’s preparing to launch WhatsApp third-party chat interoperability for its users in Europe, which will be rolled out over the coming months. This means that WhatsApp users will have an option to chat with users on alternative messaging apps such as BirdyChat and Haiket directly, using a feature called third-party chats. This feature is available as an opt-in for users on iOS and Android. With third-party chats, you will be able to message, send images, videos, voice messages, and files to users on messaging apps that have enabled interoperability with WhatsApp. Creating groups with third-party users on other platforms will not be possible initially, but it will become available in the future. With the announcement of third-party chat integration, Meta also emphasized that the development had taken more than three years of work with European messaging services and the European Commission to ensure the solution met the requirements of the DMA while also preserving its users’ privacy and security. We have built third-party interoperability, maintaining E2EE and other privacy guarantees in our services as far as possible”, Meta said. Get The Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deal Get 62% OFF now! Positive changes ahead BirdyChat and Haiket are the first two messaging apps that will initially be interoperable with WhatsApp. While these apps may not be popular or well known, the development of third-p...