Meta Will Allow Third-Party Chats and Calls on WhatsApp and Messenger in a Few Years

• In order to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Meta has decided to allow interoperability with third-party apps for Messenger and WhatsApp.
• This includes third-party chats, voice calls, and video calls.
• Third-party chats will be rolled out by 2025 and third-party voice calls by 2027.

On Friday, Meta announced that by 2025 it will allow users to use third-party apps to chat via WhatsApp and Messenger. This decision is part of its initiative to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) - the newly formed EU law that ensures there's enough competition in digital marketplaces.

The EU had some problems with the way Meta's two popular messaging apps, WhatsApp and Messenger, works and it has a bunch of suggestions for improving it.

So, in accordance with those suggestions, Meta has decided to make some changes. In a blog, Meta shared that the authorities want it to allow interoperability between its apps and other third-party platforms.

Here are the changes it will make:

• It will first set up an onboarding flow in WhatsApp and Messenger so that new users can learn more about third-party integrations and switch them on or off. Here, they will also be able to choose whether they want a separate folder for their third-party messages or a combined inbox.
• Then in 2025, it will roll out group functionality for third-party chats.
• And finally, in 2027, it will launch interoperable voice and video calling.
• It has also decided to add some rich messaging" features such as direct replies, typing indicators, emojis, and reactions for third-party chats. No specific date has been set for this.

Talking about these changes, Meta said We will keep collaborating with third-party messaging services in order to provide the safest and best experience."

When Can We Expect Third-Party Chats?

It's hard to place a finger on a release date since there's a lot to decide. For starters, WhatsApp needs to update its end-to-end encryption technology for interoperability to work. It also needs to see which platforms will be willing to integrate.

For instance, open source messaging protocol Matrix's founder, Matthew Hodgson, said that Matrix will be working with WhatsApp on an experimental basis. Now when a company does agree to integrate, they'll need to work out an agreement.

Then, the other company will have to create, test, and launch the necessary technology for this integration.

• For example, the third-party providers will have to build encrypted message protobuf structures, which will be packaged into message stanzas in eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Meta requires providers to use the Signal Protocol for encryption.
• Meta also believes that the best way to achieve interoperability is by building third-party infrastructure on Meta's existing client/server architecture. This will help Meta maximize the level of security and safety.

Preserving privacy and security in an interoperable system is a shared responsibility and not something that Meta is able to do on its own.' - Meta

As you can see, there's a long road ahead. However, whenever a new messaging app joins hands with WhatsApp or Messenger, users will get notified.

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