Meta is preparing for a major change on its WhatsApp and Messenger platforms for European Union users. The company is developing a new system that will integrate with third-party messaging applications. With this innovation, users will be able to see messages from different platforms in a single inbox or optionally keep them separate. This feature was developed in accordance with the regulations introduced under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Meta is one of the big tech companies that has been described as a “digital doorman,” so it needs to make such changes under EU competition regulations. The company will make WhatsApp and Messenger compatible with popular third-party messaging apps like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal. With this integration, users will have more flexibility in managing messages from different apps.
New messaging features and emerging challenges
These changes announced by Meta will not be limited to messaging integration with third-party applications. The company is adding various new features to make the messaging experience on WhatsApp and Messenger richer. Users will be able to react to messages from third-party messaging applications, reply directly, see typing indicators and read information. In addition, Meta is developing new notification systems that will let users know which applications they can integrate with.
In addition to these developments, Meta’s long-term plans also include the ability to create group chats. With this feature, which is planned to be available in 2024, users will be able to create group chats with third-party messaging applications. Moreover, by 2027, voice and video calls will also be integrated with third-party applications. This feature stands out as a step that further stretches the boundaries between messaging platforms.
However, there are some challenges to this integration. In order to ensure security on WhatsApp and Messenger, Meta must protect privacy while working with third-party applications. For this, Meta will use the Signal Protocol to secure messages. In order to ensure compatibility with other messaging applications, this protocol will also need to be made available to third-party developers. Meta has stated that it will provide this protocol to developers who request it, but for this integration to work smoothly, other applications will need to meet the same security standards.
The impact of EU law and Meta’s future plans
Meta’s third-party integration efforts have accelerated with the introduction of regulations under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. This law sets out various rules for big tech companies to ensure they do not stifle competition and are compatible with other platforms. Meta is making significant changes to WhatsApp and Messenger to comply with these regulations.
These new regulations will significantly change the user experience. Users in Europe in particular will have more flexibility and integration opportunities in WhatsApp and Messenger. The ability for users to manage messages from different platforms in one place can make the messaging experience more seamless. However, how these changes will be received and the speed at which the application will spread will depend on Meta’s collaborations with other platforms and their compliance with similar security standards.
Meta’s long-term plans include full compatibility with third-party apps and evolving its messaging platforms into a more open ecosystem. The company aims to expand these integrations beyond just messaging, and add more comprehensive features like voice and video calling. This could help WhatsApp and Messenger become a more comprehensive communication platform for users.
These innovations from Meta could have significant impacts on the future of messaging platforms not only in the European Union but also globally. Especially in this era of increasing competition in the technology world, cross-platform integration could become a reason for preference for users.