WhatsApp Expands Messaging Capabilities Beyond Its Platform

WhatsApp is testing a significant new feature called Third-party chats, allowing users to message individuals from other messaging apps without leaving WhatsApp. According to Android Central, this feature is currently in beta testing in Europe, where users can send and receive texts, photos, videos, voice notes, and documents from non-WhatsApp users.

This move is part of Meta's compliance with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which mandates that major platforms ensure interoperability with competitors. The feature introduces a new toggle under Settings > Account > Third-party chats, enabling users to choose how these external messages appear in their chat interface.

Users can integrate them into their regular chats or keep them separate in a designated section. However, as of now, only one external app, BirdyChat, is compatible with WhatsApp in this testing phase, and several popular features such as stickers, status updates, and disappearing messages are not supported.

There are also privacy implications to consider; blocking someone on WhatsApp does not prevent them from contacting you through other apps unless those apps have similar blocking functions. While this feature could redefine communication by breaking down brand loyalty barriers, it remains limited to the European market at this stage.

If successful, WhatsApp could become the first major messaging app to facilitate genuine cross-platform communication. Sources indicate that Meta has been diligently working to implement this feature while ensuring the platform's privacy and encryption standards are maintained, despite the challenges posed by differing protocols across various messaging applications.