Meta has unveiled its plans for third-party chat integration within WhatsApp and Messenger, an initiative driven by compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates large tech companies to ensure interoperability between their services and third-party apps. Starting next year, the social media giant will enable group chat functionalities for third-party apps, while support for third-party voice and video calls will be rolled out by 2027. However, this upcoming yet significant change only applies to its services based in the EU.
This allows users in the region to integrate their WhatsApp and Messenger chats with other messaging platforms such as iMessage, Telegram, and Signal, giving them the flexibility to view all messages in a single inbox or to keep them separate. Meta aims to enhance user convenience by offering options for richer notifications when third-party apps become available for integration.
The company’s approach to interoperability goes beyond just text messaging. As mentioned in its latest blog post, Meta will also introduce rich messaging features for third-party chats, such as reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts. These features will ensure that chats across different platforms aren’t restricted to basic text but provide a modern, interactive experience.
Meta notes that building this level of integration comes with challenges, with one of the major hurdles involving maintaining security and privacy across platforms. Its solution involves requiring third-party services to use the same encryption protocol as WhatsApp and Messenger, dubbed the Signal Protocol, which ensures messages remain private and secure. The company says it is committed to providing access to the protocol to potential partners who wish to integrate their two messaging services.
In its efforts to comply with the DMA, Meta is continuously collaborating with potential partners to shape a secure and user-friendly experience. As new third-party messaging services develop the necessary technology, users will be notified and given the option to integrate them into their inboxes. However, not all apps will be immediately available for integration, as the social media conglomerate is still working with various stakeholders to expand the list of compatible platforms.
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