WhatsApp Will Let You Message Other Apps Soon, Call Support Also Coming

Meta has unveiled its plans for integrating third-party chats into its popular messaging platforms, WhatsApp and Messenger, first for users in the European Union.

The upcoming update introduces greater flexibility, allowing users to choose between merging messages from Messenger, WhatsApp, and supported third-party apps into a single inbox or keeping them separate.

To enhance user experience, Meta is implementing new notifications within Messenger and WhatsApp. These notifications will alert users when they have the option to link chats from newly supported third-party apps. Meta emphasizes its commitment to exceeding the basic requirements for interoperable messaging by offering a rich set of features, including reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts, ensuring a seamless and feature-rich communication experience.

The company plans to introduce the ability to create groups with contacts from third-party chat apps starting next year, further breaking down barriers between messaging services. The company has even announced plans to roll out support for third-party video and voice calls by 2027.

These developments come as Meta navigates its designation as a “digital gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This classification mandates that Meta comply with regulations requiring WhatsApp and Messenger to be interoperable with third-party messaging apps, including iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, Signal, and others.

To maintain privacy and security, third-party apps seeking integration with WhatsApp and Messenger will be required to adopt the same Signal Protocol used by Meta’s platforms. To facilitate this, Meta has pledged to make the Signal Protocol available to partners upon request, as outlined in the agreement that third-party apps must sign.