WhatsApp tests messages for competitors like Telegram – 09/11/2023 – Tech

The WhatsApp messaging application began offering, in the test version, a new tab that allows messages to be sent to competing platforms, such as Telegram, Signal and Messenger, owned by Meta.

The information is from the website specialized in monitoring WhatsApp updates WABetaInfo. The service has been available since Sunday (10).

Questioned by Sheet regarding the feature being tested, Meta —holding company that owns WhatsApp— responded that it will not comment. WABetaInfo, however, published images of the new feature, which is in a separate tab.

Integration with competing applications is one of the new requirements of the new European regulatory framework against anti-competitive practices on the internet —DMA (digital markets act, in free translation).

WhatsApp was one of 19 applications from the 6 largest technology companies listed by the European Union as a target of the new regulation. The messenger has more than 100 million users on the old continent, according to the Similar Web monitoring platform.

The messaging app has six months to update, which started counting from August 25th. Meta also did not respond to the report what measures it will take to adapt to the European Digital Markets Act.

The new messaging tab for other apps still doesn’t work for testers, according to WABetaInfo. It is only possible to view it, which indicates Meta’s work on the topic.

The specialized website states that the end-to-end encryption guaranteed by WhatsApp will continue to be valid in the new mode of communication. It is not yet clear whether the tool will be available outside of Europe, where there are no standards that pressure this.

In the current model, it is necessary to download the interlocutor’s messaging application to maintain a conversation. Today, if the fictional character João only uses Telegram, for example, you need to download this messenger to send messages to João.

The integration would allow contacting João on Telegram directly from WhatsApp. If all messaging apps followed this logic, the user could only have the preferred technology on their device.

Also in accordance with the new European regulatory framework, the user will be able to choose whether they want to keep their application integrated with other platforms or not. As the technology is still in the early stages of development, however, it is not possible to anticipate how this will work.