Meta shares how WhatsApp and Messenger will interact with other messaging apps in the EU

Meta is making changes to WhatsApp and Messenger to add compatibility with third-party chat apps — in Europe, that is — and the company shared how it will work in a new post. Based on previous reports, Meta began working to allow third-party trading last year after the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules went into effect. Under the DMA, the “gatekeepers” or large companies and platforms in the industry must ensure cooperation with third parties as they are prohibited from selecting their services.

The company said it gathered feedback from potential partners and other stakeholders to help it shape the new information. First, it designed new notifications for WhatsApp and Messenger that will alert users when a third-party service is available for integration. Users will be able to choose which third-party applications they want to receive messages from, and can choose to receive those messages in a separate inbox. Those who don’t mind receiving messages alongside their Messenger or WhatsApp chats can opt for the integrated inbox instead.

Apps will also provide rich messaging features for third-party chats, so it’s not just about text. Users will be able to react and reply directly to certain messages, see the index while the other person is writing and get read receipts. Next year, they will be able to create group chats, and in 2027, they can voice and video call their friends on other apps.

“Users will start to see a third-party chat option when a third-party messaging service develops, tests and introduces the technology needed to make this feature a great and secure user experience,” Meta explained, so not every messaging app is people’s choice. it will be integrated with WhatsApp and Messenger. The company said, however, that it will continue to work with other services to increase its availability.