WhatsApp will soon allow sending messages to Telegram, Signal
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp and Messenger, has revealed its strategy for integrating third-party chats into these platforms. This development is specifically targeted at users in the European Union (EU). The new feature will provide users with the flexibility to combine Messenger and WhatsApp messages with third-party conversations in a single inbox, or maintain them separately.
Enhanced features and notifications
Meta is set to introduce enhanced features and notifications into Messenger and WhatsApp. These updates will alert users when they have the option to connect chats from newly supported apps. The company claims that it has "gone above and beyond the 'basic' features required for interoperable messaging." The advanced features include reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, as well as read receipts.
Group creation and call support in 3rd-party chats
In addition to messaging features, Meta plans to enable group creation with other users in third-party chats next year. The company's vision for interoperability extends beyond just messaging. It has announced plans to launch support for third-party video and voice calls by 2027. This move signifies Meta's commitment toward enhancing user experience through increased functionality across its platforms.
Meta's compliance with EU's Digital Markets Act
Meta's initiative to integrate third-party chats into WhatsApp, Messenger is part of its efforts to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. Under this act, Meta is recognized as a "digital gatekeeper," forcing it to make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable with third-party apps such as iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal among others. This regulatory requirement has driven the company's recent developments in chat integration.
Challenges in implementing interoperable messaging
The implementation of interoperable messaging presents certain challenges. Companies wishing to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger, will need to adopt the same Signal Protocol to ensure message privacy. To address this issue, Meta has stated in an agreement that third-party apps must sign, it will make the Signal Protocol available to partners upon request. This move aims at maintaining user privacy while promoting seamless communication across different platforms.
