Meta Sets 2027 to Allow Third-party Apps Call WhatsApp, Messenger Users

Meta issued an update on Friday on how it intends to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a European law aimed at promoting competition in digital marketplaces that affects the company’s messaging programs, Messenger and WhatsApp.

In a blog post, Meta stated that it was working on a technical solution that prioritised user privacy and security, and also demonstrated how third-party chats would appear on WhatsApp and Messenger.

Indications are that this gurabtees the ability to make audio and video calls via WhatsApp and Messenger via compatible third-party apps, albeit this would only become available in 2027, if at all.

The DMA saud Meta plans to provide the ability to create groups by 2025, and voice/video calling by 2027.

Specifically, Meta said it is adding notifications to WhatsApp and Messenger to advise users about these third-party integrations and notify them when a new suitable third-party messaging service becomes available.

According to Meta, “After six months of building new features, creating a new user experience, and getting feedback from potential partners and other stakeholders, we wanted to share an update on what third-party chats will look like on WhatsApp and Messenger.”

Meta will also add “rich messaging” features for third-party chats to WhatsApp and Messenger at an unannounced future date, including reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts, according to the company.

It stated: “We will keep collaborating with third-party messaging services in order to provide the safest and best experience,” Meta wrote in the post. “Users will start to see the third-party chat option when a third-party messaging service has built, tested and launched the necessary technology to make the feature a positive and secure user experience.”

Meta is seeking to comply with the DMA’s messaging-related rules, but the company has come under fire for allegedly breaking other parts of the legislation.