The Digital Markets Act (DMA) from the European Union is pushing major tech companies to adapt their services. Notably, the App Store is gearing up for changes, and reports suggest that messaging apps, including WhatsApp, will be impacted by DMA. Meta is reportedly working on making WhatsApp compatible with third-party chats to comply with EU regulations.
WhatsApp is set to support third-party chats, as indicated by the beta version for iOS featuring a hidden section called “third-party chats.” This upcoming feature will enable users to access chats from platforms like Telegram and Discord. The DMA emphasizes interoperability among messaging giants, and WhatsApp, being a globally popular messaging app, appears prepared for this shift.
The question arises regarding the impact of DMA on iMessage. The European Commission initiated an investigation in September to determine if Apple’s messaging platform should comply with the new antitrust legislation. While the App Store faces challenges, Apple has argued that iMessage isn’t widely used in Europe. The European Commission seems to find merit in Apple’s argument, with a final decision expected next month. If accepted, Apple may not need to support third-party chats for European users; otherwise, iMessage might need to become compatible with other platforms.
In a separate development, Apple plans to integrate support for the RCS standard into iPhones, enhancing communication between its Messages app and the standard Android Messages app. The aim is to make messaging more seamless across platforms. We’ll have to wait and see how these changes unfold.
