WhatsApp to Enable Cross-Platform Messaging to Meet EU Regulations
WABetaInfo has reported that WhatsApp is working to bring the ability to receive texts from third-party apps to comply with new EU guidelines.
According to the report, WhatsApp for Android version 2.23.19.8 was found to include a new blank screen with the heading “third-party chats” – which could be a sign that Meta is working to bring WhatsApp’s cross-platform support up to EU standards.
For the uninitiated, the European Union has now implemented the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This means that tech companies like Meta have to allow their users to communicate with different chat apps.
And this is why WhatsApp is working on developing this new feature. However, according to WABetaInfo, the feature is not ready and “looks empty” and is not available to users at this time. But this shows that users will be able to engage in multi-user conversations in the future.
WhatsApp reportedly has six months to comply with this regulation in the EU. And when the chat app fully implements this feature, it would mean that this interoperability will allow users who don’t have a WhatsApp account to connect with users on WhatsApp. For example, in theory, people using WeChat could text users on WhatsApp.
“Third-party chat support is under development and will be available in a future update to the app,” WABeta said.
In related news, WhatsApp is rolling out and rolling out improvements to its calling interface. These improvements not only provide more information on the screen, but also show that the Meta-owned app wants to make it easier for users to handle calls.
