WhatsApp testing cross-app communication

WhatsApp is rolling out what could possibly be one of its biggest feature updates in several years, which is the ability to message users on other apps.

A “Third-party chats” section has appeared in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, according to WABetaInfo reports.

Thanks to this feature, WhatsApp users will be able to chat with users on other messaging apps, such as Signal, Telegram, and Viber.

The precise technicalities behind how it will function, and which third-party apps will be supported are not yet known because the feature is not yet functional. The capability is supposedly being integrated into WhatsApp so that its parent company Meta Platforms can comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The European Commission recently declared that WhatsApp was regarded as a “gatekeeper” service under the DMA because it has a large user base in the region. What that means is that the requirement is for it to make its software interoperable with third-party messaging apps by March 2024.

The intention from the DMA is preventing gatekeepers like WhatsApp from imposing “unfair” conditions and ensuring the openness of important digital services. It is demanding similar steps from companies like Apple and Microsoft, which dominate other areas of tech.

The platform supporting third-party app chats makes it easier for users to choose alternatives while still being able to message their friends, family, and colleagues who choose to stay on WhatsApp.

According to WABetaInfo, the interoperability will have to preserve end-to-end encryption, which is a standard feature on WhatsApp but not always the default on other messaging apps.

End-to-end encryption helps ensure that a message can only be read by the intended recipient, and makes it difficult for malicious actors to intercept communication.