WhatsApp is working on third-party chat support to comply with new EU rules, allowing cross-platform communication.
WhatsApp is working on bringing the ability to receive texts from third-party applications in a bid to comply with new EU guidelines, WABetaInfo has reported.
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Per the report, WhatsApp for Android version 2.23.19.8 was found to contain a new blank screen labeled “third-party chats”—which could be an indication that Meta is working on bringing cross-platform support for WhatsApp to comply with EU norms.
For those uninitiated, the European Union has now enforced the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This means that tech companies such as Meta must allow their users to communicate with different chat apps.
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And this is why WhatsApp is working on developing this new feature. However, per WABetaInfo, the feature is not ready and “appears empty,” and it is not available to users currently. But what this does indicate is that users will be able to engage in cross-platform chats in the future.
WhatsApp reportedly has 6 months to comply with this regulation in the EU. And once the chat app does roll out this functionality in full, it would mean that this interoperability will allow users who don’t have a WhatsApp account to connect with users on WhatsApp. For instance—in theory—people using WeChat would be able to text users on WhatsApp.
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“Third-party chat support is under development, and it will be available in a future update of the app,” WABeta said.
In related news, WhatsApp is rolling out is rolling out improvements to its calling interface. These improvements not only give more information on the screen but also show that the Meta-owned app wants to make it easier for users to handle their calls.
