Major innovation on WhatsApp: Messages will be able to be sent to other apps as well

Meta has announced its plans for third-party chats on WhatsApp and Messenger. The changes coming for users in the European Union offer new options for keeping Messenger and WhatsApp messages in the same inbox as third-party chats or keeping them separate.

The new feature will provide users with the flexibility to combine Messenger and WhatsApp messages with third-party conversations in a single inbox or keep them separate. Meta is expected to bring advanced features and notifications to Messenger and WhatsApp.

These updates will alert users when they are offered the option to connect to chats from newly supported applications. The company claims it is going beyond the basic features required for interoperable messaging. Advanced features include reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts.

WORK WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THIRD-PARTY VIDEO AND VOICE CALLS

In addition to messaging features, Meta plans to enable the ability to create groups with other users in third-party chats next year. The company's vision for interoperability extends beyond just messaging. It has announced plans to launch support for third-party video and voice calls by 2027.

This move demonstrates Meta's commitment to improving the user experience by increasing functionality across platforms. Meta's initiative to integrate third-party chats into WhatsApp and Messenger is part of its efforts to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.

Due to EU laws, Meta is required to make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable with third-party applications such as iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal. This regulatory requirement is driving the company's latest developments in chat integration.

IS THE SIGNAL PROTOCOL AN OBSTACLE?

Implementing interoperable messaging presents certain challenges. Companies wishing to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger will need to adopt the same Signal Protocol to ensure message privacy.

To resolve this issue, Meta has announced that it will make the Signal Protocol available to partners upon request, through an agreement stating that third-party applications must sign it. This step aims to protect user privacy while encouraging seamless communication between different platforms.

WHAT IS THE SIGNAL PROTOCOL?

The Signal Protocol is a non-federated cryptographic protocol that can be used to provide end-to-end encryption for voice calls, video calls, and instant messaging conversations.

News Source: 12punto