WhatsApp Beta Update: WhatsApp’s Cross-Platform Endeavor
WhatsApp is currently in the process of developing cross-platform messaging capabilities. A recent beta update for WhatsApp on Android (version 2.23.19.8), released today, includes a new feature titled “Third-party chats,” as reported by WABetaInfo. Presently, this feature is not yet functional or accessible to users, as per WABetaInfo. However, the name itself strongly hints that this may be the initial stride towards enabling Meta’s encrypted messaging application for cross-platform compatibility.
This beta update follows closely on the heels of the European Commission’s confirmation that Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, falls under the category of a “gatekeeper” according to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This legislation mandates that communication software such as WhatsApp must have the capability to interoperate with third-party messaging applications by March 2024. WABetaInfo shared a screenshot of this new feature:
The DMA’s primary objective, as outlined in the European Commission’s FAQ about the law, is to prevent gatekeepers from imposing unfair conditions and to ensure the accessibility of essential digital services. In addition to requiring messaging apps to have interoperability, the DMA also obligates gatekeepers to allow users to uninstall pre-installed applications or access alternative app stores.
Both Meta and Microsoft are strategizing the launch of their respective mobile app stores in response to the DMA. The European Commission is conducting an investigation to determine whether Apple’s iMessage and Microsoft’s Bing search engine, Edge browser, and advertising service meet the criteria set forth by this new regulation.
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