Meta's largest courier service is making a change in Europe: WhatsApp activates interoperability with third-party apps To comply with European Union regulations, users will, for the first time, be able to send and receive messages from other platforms without leaving the application.
This movement is driven by the Digital Markets Law (DMA)This requires gatekeepers to open their services to competitors. The rollout is phased in, focuses on the European Economic Area, and is designed to disrupt the usual user experience as little as possible.
What changes with the opening of WhatsApp?
When interoperability is activated, users in Spain and the rest of the EU They will be able to exchange messages with people using other compatible applications, without both parties needing to have WhatsApp installed.
The first phase covers individual chats with text, photos, videos, voice notes, and documentsIt is a limited but functional start, designed to reduce friction between platforms.
The group conversations, calls and video calls They are left for later stages of the roadmap, which Meta will enable in stages as security and performance are validated.
To distinguish the origin of messages, WhatsApp will place “Third-party chats” in a separate section inside the tray. This prevents mixing conversations and maintains control over what comes in from outside.
The function is totally optional and is enabled from Settings; it also includes controls to decide who can contact you from external services and how their ads are displayed.
For now, availability is limited to Accounts registered with EU numbers on iOS and Android mobilesInitially, WhatsApp Web, desktop apps, and tablets are excluded.
Security, technical requirements, and who connects
Meta maintains the end-to-end encryption as a basis and proposes that third parties adopt the Signal Protocol —the same one that WhatsApp uses internally— or an equivalent audited alternative.
In order to connect, each service must sign an agreement and comply with a Reference Offer with safety and quality requirementsAt a technical level, the connection is established over its client/server infrastructure based on XMPP and goes through a prior certification process.
The company reminds users that, once the message reaches the external service, governs the third party's privacy policyIt is advisable to assess the trust placed in each app before enabling it.
The exchange begins with the phone number as an identifier; keep in mind that blocks applied on WhatsApp do not automatically transfer to other platforms.
Among the first to integrate are BirdyChat and HaiketWhile major players—such as Telegram, Signal, iMessage, and Google Messages—have not publicly confirmed their participation, integration will be gradual and will depend on each developer completing the required integration.
For the European user, and especially in Spain, this opens up a more flexible scenario: Fewer islands and more cross-conversationsHowever, the actual experience will depend on how many apps are added and how support for groups and calls evolves.
The EU forces the door open, and WhatsApp cautiously opens it: Optional interoperability, limited initial scope, and security aheadIf third parties respond and functions are expanded, messaging in Europe could take a leap towards a more open system without abandoning encryption.
