WhatsApp prepares support for conversations with other apps on iOS

WhatsApp prepares support for interoperability with other messaging apps, the company discovered WABetaInfo this Wednesday (24). The addition will be implemented exclusively in Europe.

Hints of the feature were found in version 24.2.10.72 of WhatsApp Beta for iOS, currently distributed to TestFlight participants. Chats with alternative apps would be gathered in a specific section called “Third-party Chats” (“Conversations on third-party apps”, in free translation).

Conversations held with users of other applications will be collected in a specific section on WhatsApp.Source: WABetaInfo/Reproduction

Interoperability with other messaging apps is a requirement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA, or “Digital Markets Law”, in free translation). WhatsApp is categorized as a “gatekeeper” service, as it is the messaging industry leader in the region.

The legislation requires WhatsApp to open up space for communication with other applications, including rivals such as Telegram and Signal. Meta messenger users must be able to send and receive messages to recipients on other platforms, even if they do not have an account.

Interoperability will not be mandatory, however. WhatsApp may include the feature as an optional function in the settings menu. Furthermore, end-to-end encryption must be implemented even in conversations between different apps.

Change will be exclusive in Europe

For now, there is no date for the launch of support for conversations between apps on WhatsApp. However, it should not take long to be implemented.

Obviously, as this is a change required by legislation, it is unlikely to be implemented in other regions. In Brazil, there is no legislation similar to DMA that requires interoperability between messaging applications.