Meta to enable WhatsApp and Messenger interoperability with iMessage, Telegram, and more in the EU

[zohaibahd]

Editor's take: As part of Meta's obligations under the EU's Digital Markets Act, the company has to make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable with other messaging apps like Apple Messages, Telegram, Signal, and Google Messages. Meta has now revealed how third-party chats on WhatsApp and Messenger will work for users in Europe.

As cool as these changes may look, they are limited to users in the EU. It is unclear whether Meta plans to expand availability worldwide. Theoretically, it wouldn't be difficult once the European transition is complete.

However, Meta doesn't gain anything from it, so the motivation to implement interoperability globally isn't there. Mandates forcing the company's hand from outside Europe also seem unlikely since few other countries have followed the EU's regulatory approach.

Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach, Meta will allow users to choose which third-party apps they want to integrate. Users can keep third-party chats neatly separated in a dedicated inbox folder or combine everything – WhatsApp, Messenger, and external messages – into a single unified inbox. Each Meta app will present these preferences during setup, but users can switch views anytime.

Meta recognizes that some users may need guidance, so it has included an onboarding process that explains third-party integration and lets users toggle which external apps they want to allow. Once enabled for a particular service, Meta will push notifications whenever new compatibility rolls out.

More importantly, Meta says it will offer full-fledged rich messaging features across third-party chats, including reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts from day one. Users of other apps will even be able to join group chats in 2025, with voice/video calling following in 2027.

Making all these different messaging platforms talk to each other is no easy feat. One major hurdle is getting everyone on the same encryption protocol to maintain security. Meta's solution is to share access to the Signal Protocol used by WhatsApp.

However, third-party apps would need to integrate the protocol and get Meta's approval on the implementation, which is easier said than done. Regardless, it's a mandatory step outlined in the official agreement Meta plans to have service providers sign.

Image credit: Open Rights Group

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Meta to enable WhatsApp and Messenger interoperability with iMessage, Telegram, and more in the EU

 

[Win7user]

You cannot get a good chat program like they had in the nineties. MSN Messenger was the absolute best. I wish they would bring it back...ICQ was pretty good too. You could split the screen and see the other person's text, while you typed on the other side.

 

[Puiu]

You cannot get a good chat program like they had in the nineties. MSN Messenger was the absolute best. I wish they would bring it back...ICQ was pretty good too. You could split the screen and see the other person's text, while you typed on the other side.

Sending paper mail is still the best! They just don't make them like they use to.

 

[Steveb8189]

You cannot get a good chat program like they had in the nineties. MSN Messenger was the absolute best. I wish they would bring it back...ICQ was pretty good too. You could split the screen and see the other person's text, while you typed on the other side.

But you're comparing a windows chat client with a mobile one. I freaking hate MS Teams but it's still better than MSM Messenger ever was. How were your 200 person video calls back in the 90s?

 

[hwertz]

A) I"m glad it's opt-in and only for limited chats and not group chats. The last thing I need is to be having Facebook hoover up data from my Telegram and Slack chats because 1 person joined from Messenger or whatever.

B) 2027 for video? I wonder how they decided on that? I mean, do they have a solution and they are going to sit on it for 3 years? If it's a difficult problem, how are they sure it's going to take until 2027 as opposed to 2025, 2026, or 2028? Well, I don't use Facebook products so no concern for me I guess!