WhatsApp comes with an amazing feature: chat with users of other apps

The latest beta version of WhatsApp for iOS includes a new “Third Party Chats” section. This gives WhatsApp users access to incoming chat conversations from users of other messaging apps, such as Telegram and Discord.

This section is still hidden in the new beta version of WhatsApp for iOS at the moment. WABetaInfo reports. It is not currently tested on Android.

Commitment to cooperation

Through this new component, WhatsApp hopes to soon comply with the European Union's new DMA regulations, which oblige large platforms to interoperate. This means that they have to work well with competitors. European users will have the opportunity to communicate with other app users within their favorite app. For example, as a Telegram user, you can send a message to a WhatsApp user, without having to have a WhatsApp account yourself. Applications must also maintain end-to-end encryption.

Users must manually enable third-party chats themselves and can also opt out. More details about the introduction are still pending, but it seems like WhatsApp wants to be ready in time. WhatsApp therefore has a dominant position in the chat market and therefore must adhere to the stricter rules of the DMA.

Should Apple cooperate too?

The question remains whether Apple's iMessage messaging app must also meet this obligation in the EU. Brussels is still investigating whether the number of active users of iMessage is large enough that the service could be considered a gatekeeper according to the DMA. The European Commission will make its final decision on this next month.

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