Messaging in Europe is starting to open its borders: WhatsApp has begun a rollout that allows users to chat with other apps directly from within the app itself. EuropeThis opening is imposed by the community regulation and it is applied gradually so as not to force abrupt changes in the user experience.
For everyday life, this translates to the European users they will be able to exchange messages with people who use compatible third-party serviceswithout needing to switch apps. It's a significant change, but one approached with caution: the feature is optional, and third-party chats are managed in their own space within WhatsApp.
What changes for users in Europe
In this first stage, the scope covers the essentials: you will be able to send and receive. messages, photos, voice notes, videos and files in one-on-one conversations with contacts who are on compatible apps. The rollout is gradual, so not everyone will see the feature at the same time.
Activation will be done from Settingsthrough a notification that will explain how to connect third-party services; the switch allows activate or desactivate Interoperability will be available whenever desired. It currently works on iOS and Android, while desktop, web, and tablet versions will be released later.
Who's connecting and what's still to come
Meta confirms that BirdyChat and Haiket These are the first European services to have decided to integrate. The regulations require WhatsApp to open the door, but do not force other companies to join; therefore, the most well-known platforms have not yet publicly announced their participation.
There are clear limits for now: they cannot be created group chats and calls Voice or video communication with third parties is supported in this initial phase. The roadmap anticipates expanding support over time, with gradual additions that will be refined to cover more scenarios.
- Available today: one-on-one chats with encryption, including text, multimedia, and files.
- Coming soon: Groups, voice calls, and video calls when their implementation is complete.
- Organization: “third-party chats” tray separate from the rest of the conversations.
- Control: optional function, manageable from Settings to maintain the privacy to your liking.
Privacy, security and technical requirements
To preserve the end-to-end encryptionWhatsApp uses the Signal protocol, which it already uses in its own communications. Third-party services that want to interoperate must adopt this same protocol or adapt their own to be fully compatible.
Before connecting, external platforms must subscribe technical agreements and subject its integrations to prior review and continuous monitoring. Furthermore, by design, messages from other apps are not mixed with native chats: they remain in a separate section to reduce risks and avoid confusion.
Why is this happening now? The DMA is at stake.
All this movement is a response to the Digital Markets Law (DMA) of the European Union, which requires large messaging operators to enable interoperability to promote competition and limit dominant positions.
In practice, users in Spain and the rest of Europe gain competition and choiceThey will be able to chat with contacts who are not on WhatsApp, while technology companies explore new services and integrations based on this openness.
With this step, WhatsApp opens a new chapter in Europe: a phased deploymentFocused on security, this will begin to be noticeable in iOS and Android and will depend, to a large extent, on how many platforms decide to join in so that interoperability goes from promise to habit.