WhatsApp has begun rolling out support for messaging users on third-party platforms, starting with its latest Android beta release (v2.25.33.8).
The feature, currently limited to testers in the European region, marks a significant step toward cross-platform interoperability as mandated by the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The update was first identified by WABetaInfo, which reports the rollout is limited but gradually expanding, with select beta testers now able to message users outside the WhatsApp ecosystem, without leaving the app.
This interoperability feature appears under Settings > Account > Third-party chats, and although still in early stages, it allows testers to send messages, media files, and voice notes to users on approved external messaging platforms. Group messaging across platforms remains in development, but individual chats are now supported for a subset of users.
WhatsApp's new interoperability function is designed to comply with the Digital Markets Act, which requires large “gatekeeper” platforms to open their services to competitors. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, falls squarely within the DMA's scope due to its market dominance in messaging and social media.
As of now, BirdyChat is the only third-party app officially supported by WhatsApp for this feature. WhatsApp does not handpick which services to integrate; instead, third-party developers must initiate the process and meet WhatsApp's security standards. This ensures that end-to-end encryption remains intact, even when messages are exchanged between apps.
WhatsApp has emphasized that it cannot access the content of these cross-platform conversations. Messages sent through third-party chats are still handled directly by the interoperable service, not WhatsApp itself, which helps maintain compliance with privacy expectations and technical safeguards.
This new feature is available only in the European Union, as the DMA applies solely to that jurisdiction. WhatsApp has not disclosed any plans to bring this feature to other markets, and users outside the EU will not see the third-party chats option in their settings.
WABetaInfo
Privacy controls
To maintain user control, WhatsApp has implemented several privacy and customization options for third-party chats:
- Users can choose whether third-party messages appear in a combined or separated inbox.
- Notifications for third-party message requests can be enabled or disabled individually.
- Users blocked on WhatsApp may still be able to contact a person via a third-party app, depending on how that platform handles blocking.
Importantly, WhatsApp ensures that only the user's phone number is shared across platforms; no other personal information is exchanged. However, the responsibility for privacy compliance also falls on third-party apps, and WhatsApp advises users to review each app's data handling policies before enabling interoperability.
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