In March 2024, Meta announced how app interoperability would work. Changes to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) led to a major change: making it technically possible to communicate from WhatsApp with users of other apps like Telegram or Signal.

We already guessed at the time that we would have to sit tight and wait, and Meta has once again confirmed that interoperability will not be a quick affair. They provided some additional details about their path in a recent post .

Due to European regulations, Meta is obliged to make WhatsApp compatible with other applications. March 6 of this year was the first starting signal but after six months the roadmap makes it clear that this was not enough to open the technical possibility.

• March 6, 2024: It is now possible to send text messages to WhatsApp from other applications between individual users.
• September 6, 2025: It becomes possible to send text messages in groups between different applications.
• September 6, 2027: It becomes possible to make calls and video calls between different applications, with or without a group.

If WhatsApp already “allows” other apps to communicate with its service, why isn’t this happening?

“We will continue to work with third-party messaging services to deliver the best and most secure experience. Once a third-party messaging service has built, tested, and released the necessary technology, users will begin to see a third-party chat option. This feature provides a positive and secure user experience.”

As Meta explains, in order to fulfill the roadmap, third-party services need to use secure protocols that are compatible with their own services. Similarly, in March, when a request was received for a service to work with their application, The process may take more than three months rather than leaving the functionality “public”.

Meta in the new publication, with visuals shared inbox It will be possible to use a combined tray where we will receive messages from both WhatsApp and other applications, as well as a separate tray where we will see only notifications sent from third-party applications.

Basic chat options will be available, as well as classic indicators for typing, reading, reactions, and more.

Even if WhatsApp allows this option, it won’t do much good if third-party developers don’t join the plan. Full integration on a technical level will be possible in 2027. The end result is something very different.

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