Meta has finally unveiled its third-party chat plans for WhatsApp and Messenger. The change for EU users introduces new options to put Messenger and WhatsApp messages in the same inbox as third-party chats, or keep them separate.
It also created new notifications in Messenger and WhatsApp to let users know when chats can be linked from newly supported apps. Meta says it “goes beyond the ‘basic’ functionality required for interoperable messaging” and will offer rich messaging features such as reactions, direct responses, typing indicators and read receipts.
Next year, it will also start offering the option to create groups with other people in third-party chats. But Meta’s interoperability plans aren’t limited to messaging—the company says it will roll out support for third-party video and voice calls in 2027.
Meta has been working on bringing third-party chat features to WhatsApp and Messenger for EU users for some time. The company is considered a “digital gatekeeper” under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which means it must comply with requirements to enable WhatsApp and Messenger to interoperate with third-party apps such as iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, Signal and others.
It will have to overcome some hurdles, as other companies wanting to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger will need to use the same signaling protocols to keep messages private. In a copy of the agreement that third-party apps must sign, Meta said it will make the Signal Agreement available to partners upon their request.
