WhatsApp adds “Third-party Chats” feature to enable interoperability with other apps

WhatsApp, in its Android beta version 2.23.19.8 seen by WABetaInfo, introduced a feature called “Third-party chats.” This development follows the European Commission’s confirmation that Meta, the owner of the instant messaging platform, is considered a “gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

DMA requires communication apps like WhatsApp to implement “chat interoperability” or “messaging compatibility” by March 2024, allowing users to communicate across different messaging apps. The “Third-party chats” feature, though non-functional in the current stage, suggests the potential expansion of Meta’s encrypted messaging app for cross-platform compatibility.

The DMA aims to ensure that big tech companies keep their digital services open to everyone by emphasising collaboration among messaging apps and providing users with more freedom and choice.

Meta and Microsoft are developing their mobile app stores in response to the DMA, and the European Commission is investigating Apple’s iMessage and Microsoft’s services for compliance.

Google, which the EU also designated as one of the six gatekeepers, is actively improving interoperability across its messaging apps. Recently, Google Messages unveiled its strategy to incorporate the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol into the application. This move has the potential to introduce cross-platform end-to-end encryption, ultimately facilitating secure communication across various major messaging platforms.

WhatsApp’s venture into cross-platform messaging offers advantages such as improved user experience, convenience, enhanced productivity for business users, and data backup and synchronisation. It is seen as a strategic step to remain competitive in the messaging app market and provide users with a more connected digital experience.

WhatsApp has been on a roll with its latest product updates. These include the addition of screen sharing during video calls, the ability to share short videos, enhanced security features, and a handy chat lock function. Mark Zuckerberg himself recently revealed that WhatsApp is currently in the process of introducing HD photo sharing, with the promise of HD video sharing coming soon.