WhatsApp to offer cross-platform messaging facility on iOS app
What's the story
WhatsApp is introducing a chat interoperability feature in compliance with new EU regulations, as spotted in the recent WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.2.10.72.
Dubbed "Third-party chats," this facility is currently under development and will be rolled out in an upcoming app update.
This change is a response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to regulate the conduct of major tech companies, especially those deemed "gatekeepers" with significant influence on the digital market.
Usage
Interoperability will be a boon
The DMA mandates companies like WhatsApp to allow users to communicate across different apps.
This means that users will soon be able to chat with others on WhatsApp using alternative messaging apps, such as Signal.
Interoperability enables individuals using different messaging apps to send messages to WhatsApp users, even without a WhatsApp account.
This promotes more diverse and inclusive communication channels, ultimately improving the user experience.
Security
Users can expect end-to-end encryption
Users will have control over this interoperability feature, as they must manually enable the service and can choose to opt-out, as outlined in Article 7 of the DMA regulations.
Moreover, end-to-end encryption must be maintained in interoperable messaging systems, ensuring a high level of security for users participating in cross-platform communication.
This guarantees that users' privacy will not be jeopardized when utilizing third-party chat support on WhatsApp.
Timeline
What about its availability?
As of now, the third-party chat support feature is still being developed for the iOS version of WhatsApp. The precise release date for this feature is yet to be announced, but it will be included in a future app update.