WhatsApp will soon send messages to other apps: here’s what it will look like

Meta has finally revealed its plans for third-party chats in WhatsApp and Messenger. The change, which affects users in the European Union, introduces new options to place Messenger and WhatsApp messages in the same inbox as third-party chats or keep them separate.

The company is also integrating new notifications into Messenger and WhatsApp, which will let users know when they can link chats from newly supported apps. Meta says it has “gone beyond the ‘core’ features required for interoperable messaging” and will offer richer messaging features, such as reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts.

Next year, Meta will also offer the ability to group chat with others in third-party chats. But Meta’s interoperability plan extends beyond messaging: The company says it will roll out support for third-party video and voice calls in 2027.

Meta has been working for some time to bring third-party chats to WhatsApp and Messenger for EU users. The company is considered a “digital gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which means it must comply with requirements to make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable with third-party apps, like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, Signal, and others.

There are some hurdles to overcome, as other companies that want to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger will have to use the same Signal protocol to keep messages private. In a copy of the agreement that third-party apps must sign, Meta says it will make the Signal protocol available to partners upon request.