Whatsapp Gears Up For Cross-App Messaging In Europe With Birdychat And Haiket

WhatsApp Expands Horizons with Cross-App Messaging

Meta is breaking new ground in Europe, bringing interoperability to WhatsApp users by allowing them to send messages from within the app to selected third-party services. This strategic move aligns with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates such cross-platform functionalities. Meta has announced that this feature will roll out in the coming months.

"Meta ensures that all partner apps will uphold the same rigorous level of end-to-end encryption as WhatsApp," according to company representatives. This move follows their March 2024 directive, emphasizing the preference for partners to adopt the Signal encryption protocol, ensuring secure communication across platforms.

Meet the First Partners: BirdyChat and Haiket

Leading the charge in this new era of messaging are BirdyChat and Haiket. BirdyChat, though currently under the radar with less than 500 downloads on Android, is making a splash by being among the first to join this initiative. Its presence on the iOS App Store is fresh, albeit unrated at this moment.

Haiket, on the other hand, is set to launch soon. With a waiting list in place, it promises a unique voice-first communication experience, inviting users to "free" themselves from traditional texting. This initiative marks a significant step for WhatsApp in expanding its communication ecosystem.

Enhanced Features and Availability

WhatsApp's new interoperability features will provide users the ability to text and share images, videos, files, or voice notes seamlessly across these services. Users will have control over whether these conversations appear in their main chat feed or a separate tab, ensuring a tailored messaging experience.

Access to this feature requires users to opt in and is currently exclusive to mobile versions of WhatsApp. While group chats won't be available at the initial launch, potential updates could expand these capabilities. For now, this exciting development remains a European exclusive, with no plans for a global rollout where interoperability isn't mandated.