As a result of European Union antitrust regulations, the WhatsApp app, owned by technology giant Meta, is undergoing significant changes. The European Union’s Digital Markets Law aims to prevent the monopolization of software ecosystems, and this law has forced Meta, following Apple’s lead, to allow the integration of third-party chat apps.

WhatsApp Unveils an Unexpected Innovation

According to a statement, WhatsApp users within the European Union can now communicate with friends who use a different chat app. It was announced that this integration will initially be provided through BirdyChat and Haiket.

Meta states that it has been working on this integration for approximately three years. However, there is a condition for this integration: the target apps that will be integrated must have the same End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) level of user privacy as WhatsApp.

Detailed instructions on how to connect with third-party chats will be available in the Settings section of the WhatsApp app. It has been announced that this third-party integration will be available to users before the end of the year. This decision fundamentally changes WhatsApp’s mechanics in the European market.

This mandatory integration significantly simplifies users’ ability to seamlessly communicate across platforms. This rule, introduced by the Digital Markets Act, limits the market dominance of large players like Meta and increases competition.

Users will no longer have to worry about which chat app a friend uses to communicate with them. This ushers in a new era for the European mobile communications ecosystem. With this development, WhatsApp maintains its position as a messaging giant while also complying with legal regulations by opening its service to competitors.