WhatsApp is preparing for one of the biggest changes in its more than a decade of life. In a couple of months it should include a multi-platform chat service through which users of other applications can send us messages.
The theory had already been communicated, but today we were finally able to see a first preview of how this new feature will work.
WhatsApp prepares to receive Telegram and others
Examining the latest beta of WhatsApp for iOS we have been able to see one of the next changes that the Meta messaging application is preparing. The service will also integrate conversations with third-party applications like Telegram and that will turn it into a kind of hub for all your chats.
This chat interoperability feature will officially arrive in a future update, as Meta still has time to integrate it and adjust to the regulations. Specifically, it will do so starting March 6, 2024, the date from which it will be possible to send text messages between individual users from other applications to WhatsApp.
So, to have everything ready when push comes to shove, WhatsApp is already working to bring third-party chat support to a future app update.
This feature is in development, so it’s not ready for beta testers, but thanks to WABetaInfo we were able to discover a preview that shows us how it will work.
Specifically, at Meta they have chosen the easiest option taking into account that this feature does not arise of its own accord, but rather is an imposition. Specifically, it will do so through a new section that will contain all incoming messages from third-party chats, as shown in the screenshot.
Digital Markets Law
The new WhatsApp function will be launched at least in the European Union, where it will do so under the obligation of the DMA (Digital Markets Act), known as the Digital Markets Law. This legislation aims to regulate the behavior of large technology companies, particularly those considered “gatekeepers”, which have a significant impact on the digital market. Meta is one of the six chosen, along with Alphabet (Google), Apple, Microsoft, ByteDance and Amazon.
Due to being a gatekeeper, this implies that Meta companies, such as WhatsApp, have a dominant position in their sector, in this case messaging. As such, you will need to comply with the strict rules set by the DMA.
Thanks to interoperability obligations, users will have the possibility to communicate with other people on WhatsApp using different messaging applications. Interoperability allows someone on a different messaging app, such as Signal or Telegram, to send messages to a WhatsApp user, even without needing a WhatsApp account.
This, according to the DMA, facilitates more inclusive and diverse communication channels, improving the overall user experience. It is important to mention that users must maintain control over this feature, since they must manually enable the interoperability service and have the option to cancel it, as stipulated in article 7 of the regulation. In addition, end-to-end encryption will need to be preserved in interoperable messaging systems, guaranteeing a good level of security for users participating in cross-platform communications.
