With over two billion users worldwide, WhatsApp has become an indispensable tool for contemporary communication. Our digital life would be difficult to function without it given its strong architecture, end-to-end encryption, and user-friendly interface.
Once just a texting service, it has now developed into a diverse platform with group chats, audio and video calls, payment methods, and even business solutions. WhatsApp has developed into a complete communication platform rather than just a messaging software with each new version.
With the upcoming release of a new feature, WhatsApp users will be able to communicate with users of other messaging apps.
What’s the update about?
With the upcoming release of a new feature, WhatsApp users will be able to communicate with users of other messaging apps.
For WhatsApp, this means that users can communicate with users of other messaging apps that have chosen to integrate their services. We refer to this capability as third-party chats.
Under new EU legislation known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), WhatsApp needs to ensure that the core functionalities of its messaging service are interoperable with other third-party messaging service providers upon request. The DMA has previously targeted Apple and Google, two more significant tech corporations.
Due to a new regulation, this upgrade is primarily being used for users in Europe, although it could potentially extend to other regions.
Meta announced on its blog that it was developing a technical solution that would preserve user security and privacy while demonstrating what third-party talks on WhatsApp and Messenger might look like.
The third-party chat option will become visible to users once a third-party messaging service has developed, tested, and deployed the required technologies to ensure a safe and secure experience for users.
According to Meta, it will also enable “rich messaging features” such as the ability to form groups and, by 2025, reactions, direct answers, read receipts, and typing indicators. Voice and video conversations to apps from third parties won’t be possible until 2027, though.
Will India Get the Update?
With more than 500 million users as of 2023, India represents the largest market for WhatsApp. Everyday activities such as business meetings, political debates, and formal correspondence now involve WhatsApp.
Given India’s prominence, any major update from WhatsApp, but this third-party messaging feature of WhatsApp, which enables users to message other users of other messaging applications directly, is not currently accessible in India.
However, if the update is done right, this could benefit businesses. It could help streamline communication by allowing businesses to communicate with customers across different platforms without having to manage multiple apps.
Final Thoughts
The update for WhatsApp, which will enable users to call and send messages to other platforms, is a significant advancement in digital communication. The potential advantages for consumers and organizations are enormous, despite the technical, legal, and privacy issues that come with it.
Although it presents a unique set of challenges, the addition of such a function would be enormous for WhatsApp’s main market in India.
As the platform continues to develop, users across the world are entitled to participate in its upcoming innovations, once all the kinks are worked out.
