Meta has finally revealed how it plans to integrate third-party chats into WhatsApp and Messenger.
This new feature, initially for users in the European Union, will allow them to either combine Messenger and WhatsApp messages with third-party chats in the same inbox or keep them separate.
Meta is also adding new notifications in Messenger and WhatsApp to alert users when they can connect chats from newly supported apps. The company claims it’s offering more than just the basic requirements for interoperable messaging, including advanced features like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts.
Starting next year, users will also be able to create group chats that include people from third-party apps. But Meta’s vision for interoperability goes beyond just messaging—it plans to support third-party video and voice calls by 2027.
Meta has been working on this feature for some time, especially for its European users. The company is classified as a “digital gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This law requires Meta to make WhatsApp and Messenger compatible with other apps like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal.
However, there are challenges. For example, other companies that want to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger will need to use the same Signal Protocol to ensure message privacy. Meta has stated that it will make this protocol available to its partners upon request.
