WhatsApp is apparently receiving a new feature, but it is not what the company had hoped to create. In fact, WhatsApp was very opposed to it. Interoperability, or cross-platform interaction, has been a significant talking point for the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to eliminate ecosystem lock-in and anti-competitive behaviour. The EU confirmed earlier this month that Meta’s instant messaging platform fell under the category of “gatekeeper” and must comply with the new criteria. Soon later, a fresh report revealed that WhatsApp has began developing a cross-platform messaging function known as “third-party chats.” This allows users to immediately text anyone on any other messaging programme.
WhatsApp is reportedly releasing an upgrade through the Google Play Beta Programme that would raise the version to 2.23.19.8, according to a report from WABetaInfo. And this most recent version displays a brand-new panel with the heading “Third-party chats.” The focus of this upgrade, according to the source, is on WhatsApp adhering to EU standards by “developing support for chat interoperability.”
Testing cross-platform messaging on WhatsApp
Governments and charitable organisations are beginning to consider cross-platform engagement as large tech businesses with several applications concentrate on building an ecosystem experience and entangling their customers within that ecosystem. Because of this, it is challenging for the user to communicate with others outside of the ecosystem and to download different programmes for each platform. The EU has given emphasis to the need for businesses to refrain from engaging in this type of behaviour and classifies such a situation as anti-competitive.
Users of WhatsApp may now text someone who only use Signal, Telegram, or other platforms thanks to the new functionality. This implies consumers are no longer need to download different chat programmes because they are limited to the user base of a single platform.
In order to maintain their current user base and prevent losing them to a rival with a better user interface and features, such interoperability will also put pressure on the firms to concentrate on the app experience. Read this article to learn how to easily send WhatsApp HD photographs and videos after a major upgrade to Meta.
One of the platforms exploring cross-platform chat capabilities is Google Chat. However, given its use case, its compatibility is restricted to other business communication platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack, unlike WhatsApp.
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