Kate Mills 
Mar 05, 2024
WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app, is reportedly working on a new feature which will enable users have chats with the users of third-party apps, in a bid to deliver a more connected messaging experience.
As per WABetaInfo, the feature will let users have comprehensive control over the apps to remain in sync with WhatsApp. Once the feature will be rolled out, WhatsApp users will be able to have chats with users of other platforms like Telegram and Signal.
If the feature happens to be in the development phase by now, the company will have to release it before March 6, the date when the European Union's (EU) new Digital Markets Act (DMA) will be enacted in a full-fledged manner across the bloc.
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The Meta-owned platform will allow users to not only select whether to activate or deactivate the feature, but also to choose which apps to link with.
Being an interoperability feature for the European regions, the feature is currently available on WhatsApp Beta version 2.24.6.2 as the company aims to release the feature for a wider audience soon.
The EU has mandated that users should have a way to speak with other users on different messaging apps, without having to download multiple apps.
The controls are in line with the DMA regulations, which require users to have control over data sharing and communication preferences. This allows users to make decisions about whether they want to use the feature, for how long, and which apps they want to connect with.
An earlier report showed another interface page for the feature, indicating to be the initial screen for the feature, where WhatsApp included several warnings for users to read before enabling third-party chats. One warning says that the there's no end-to-end encryption for messages, while another cautions against an increase in spam and scams.
