WhatsApp is already working on support for third-party chat apps

Last week, the European Union (EU) announced the first set of gatekeeper tech companies and gatekeeper services, and we've already discussed what it means. For example, iMessage isn't a gatekeeper yet, so it doesn't have to support Google's RCS.

But Apple's iOS and App Store are gatekeepers, so sideloading support must be coming in a future update to iOS 17. Similarly, Meta's WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are gatekeeper chat apps that will have to support third-party instant messaging apps.

I explained recently why the latter scenario will be a nightmare, considering the EU's rules. Conversely, it would be just as confusing to see Apple have to open iMessage to third-party chat apps. But while Meta has six months to comply with the the Digital Markets Act (DMA), it looks like it already started the work. A future version of WhatsApp might support third-party apps, but don't get too excited.

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The post WhatsApp is already working on support for third-party chat apps appeared first on BGR.

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