WhatsApp is preparing a major change to its service: soon it will be possible to chat with people who use other messaging apps without leaving the WhatsApp app itself. This new feature will allow, for example, talking to a contact on Telegram or Signal directly from WhatsApp and keeping everything in the same place—an opening that break down the barriers between platforms.
The movement responds to the European Union Digital Markets Law (DMA), which requires major services to guarantee interoperability. The feature will be rolled out first in Europe and will be entirely optional, so each user can activate or deactivate it as they see fit.
What does it mean now who is affected in Europe and Spain?
Interoperability is coming to users in the European Union, with a direct impact on Spain and the rest of the European marketThe regulatory objective is for large operators (the so-called "gatekeepers of access") to open their services so that they can communicate with third parties that meet equivalent security standards.
How interoperability will work
At launch, the feature will focus on the essentials: you'll be able to send and receive messages, photos, videos, voice notes and documents with people who are on other apps, directly from your WhatsApp chats, without installing anything else.
There will be initial limitations: some features exclusive to WhatsApp, such as statuses, certain stickers, or disappearing messages, They will not be available in chats with external servicesFurthermore, the first phase will focus on individual conversations; groups and other advanced capabilities will come later.
To better organize yourself, you can choose between one combined inbox (all together) or a separate inbox where you can easily distinguish messages from other platforms. You'll also be able to adjust notifications and media upload quality to your liking.
Another key point is control over who can message you from outside: you can allow messages from everyone, restrict them to your contacts, or completely block access of external apps for Avoid spam or unwanted communications.
Privacy, encryption, and requirements for third-party apps
Meta assures that it will remain end-to-end encryption In conversations with third parties, the system prevents both the platform and third parties from reading your messages. It relies on the Signal protocol, the same one WhatsApp already uses to protect its chats.
To integrate, external applications will need to adopt that security standard and undergo a technical connection interface (API)This process includes collaboration agreements and audits to ensure privacyThe European Union will monitor compliance with the regulations.
Activation will be simple: an assistant will explain how "third-party chats" work and let you choose which apps to interoperate with. You can activate them at any time. activate or deactivate the function and change your preferences from the settings menu itself.
What will come next?
As the system matures, WhatsApp plans to expand its capabilities: the first expected to be the arrival of interoperable group chats And later, features like cross-platform calls and video calls. The company has indicated that it plans to enable these features around 2027, provided the technical and security requirements are met.
If everything progresses as expected, the messaging ecosystem in Europe will be more open and user-friendly: less friction, greater freedom to choose apps, and more competition among services without relinquishing the protection of the conversations.
With this opening, WhatsApp takes the first step towards enabling secure conversations with other platforms within the EU, starting with individual chats and basic features, with clear privacy controls and a roadmap that incorporates groups and calls in later phases.
