WhatsApp is preparing support for calls with other apps on iOS

The company discovered that WhatsApp is preparing support for interoperability with other messaging applications WABetaInfo this Wednesday (24). The addition will only be implemented in Europe.

Hints of this feature were found in version 24.2.10.72 of the WhatsApp Beta for iOS, which is now being rolled out to TestFlight participants. Chats with alternative applications will be collected in a special section called “Third-Party Chats” (“Chats in third-party applications”, free translation).

Interoperability with other messaging applications is a requirement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA or in free translation “Digital Markets Act”). Since WhatsApp is the leader in the messaging industry in the region, it is classified as a “gatekeeper” service.

The legislation requires WhatsApp to make room for communication with other applications, including rivals such as Telegram and Signal. Meta messenger users should be able to send and receive messages to recipients on other platforms, even if they do not have an account.

However, interoperability will not be mandatory. WhatsApp may include this feature as an optional function in the settings menu. Additionally, end-to-end encryption should be implemented even in conversations between different applications.

The change will be specific to Europe

For now, there is no date for the launch of cross-app conversation support on WhatsApp. However, it should not take too long to implement.

Frankly, since it is a change required by the legislation, it does not seem possible to implement it in other regions. There is no DMA-like legislation in Brazil that requires interoperability between messaging applications.