Meta is nearing the launch of an interoperability feature within WhatsApp in Europe, in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), aiming to boost competition and curb tech monopolies.
The feature will roll out gradually over the coming months. BirdyChat and Haiket will be the first messaging services to support this new integration. Users will see a notification in the Settings tab explaining how to activate the feature. It will be available on iOS and Android phones only, and will not support desktop, web, or tablet versions for now.
Feature Details
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Supported Accounts: Only accounts registered with European phone numbers.
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Supported Messages: Text, images, videos, voice messages, and files.
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Although designed for Europe, the impact could extend to the Middle East and North Africa.
Meta emphasized that external apps must adhere to encryption standards and warned about potential differences in privacy policies. In September 2025, the company demonstrated WhatsApp-Messenger integration, allowing users to either view third-party messages in a separate folder or merge them into their main inbox.
Objective:
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Reduce barriers between platforms
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Give small and medium businesses greater access to a wider user base
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Maintain the same level of security and privacy
About WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a free messaging app that allows users to send text, voice, images, videos, and documents, as well as make voice and video calls. It works over Wi-Fi and cellular data and features end-to-end encryption. Owned by Meta, WhatsApp is used by millions worldwide.
Founders: Jan Koum and Brian Acton, who previously worked together at Yahoo, with a combined 20 years of experience.
WhatsApp joined Facebook (now Meta) in 2014 but continues to operate independently, focusing on providing a fast, reliable messaging service worldwide.
Name Origin: The name “WhatsApp” is a play on the English phrase “What’s Up,” meaning “What’s new?” or “How are you?”
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