WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is preparing to offer cross-platform messaging. This means WhatsApp users will soon be able to communicate directly with those on apps like Telegram or Signal.
WhatsApp's Integration Efforts
For the past two years, WhatsApp has been developing a technical solution for this integration while ensuring its strict end-to-end encryption standards remain in place.
Mandated Integration
While this change offers greater messaging choice, it wasn’t entirely WhatsApp’s idea. It’s more of a restriction for the company, at least at the moment, since recent EU legislation designated Meta a tech “gatekeeper”, mandating WhatsApp to open its communication platform within a six-month deadline.
Functionality and Rollout
WhatsApp is now outlining how this messaging interoperability will function as the deadline is nearing. Initially, the focus will be on basic features like exchanging texts, images, videos, voice messages, and files between individuals.
More advanced features like calls and group chats will be rolled out later. But more importantly, users must actively opt-in to this cross-platform messaging to avoid potential “spam and scams” says Dick Brouwer, an engineering director at WhatsApp.
Users who opt-in for the service will see conversations received from other platforms in a separate “third-party chats” section within WhatsApp.
Likewise, the messaging apps wishing to connect with WhatsApp will need to sign agreements and abide by Meta’s terms. So, it will certainly take time to fully implement this feature, but detailed plans are expected in March.
The Goal of Interoperability
The goal of interoperability is pretty straightforward — you shouldn’t have to jump between apps to stay in touch with people, regardless of their preferred messaging platform.
Ideally, this could even mean chatting between WhatsApp and Telegram or Signal, or even iMessage. However, the technical and security challenges of connecting large, encrypted messaging apps are pretty significant and not easy.
So despite the company’s active preparation, it will take time for cross-platform messaging to reach everyday users. We expect official details about interoperability on WhatsApp to come out soon.
