Meta Will Let Third-Party Apps Place Calls To WhatsApp, Messenger Users

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Meta on Friday published an update on how it plans to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European law that aims to promote competition in digital marketplaces, where the law concerns the company's messaging apps, Messenger and WhatsApp. As Meta notes in a blog post, the DMA requires that it provide an option in WhatsApp and Messenger to connect with interoperable third-party messaging services and apps. Meta says it's building notifications into WhatsApp and Messenger to inform users about these third-party integrations and alert them when a newly compatible third-party messaging app comes online. The company also says it's introducing an onboarding flow in WhatsApp and Messenger where users can learn more about third-party chats and switch them on. From the flow, users will be able to set up a designated folder for third-party messages or, alternatively, opt for a combined inbox.

In 2025, Meta will roll out group functionality for third-party chats, and, in 2027, it'll launch voice and video calling in accordance with the DMA. And at some unspecified point in the future, Meta will bring 'rich messaging' features for third-party chats to WhatsApp and Messenger, like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators and read receipts, the company says. 'We will keep collaborating with third-party messaging services in order to provide the safest and best experience,' Meta wrote in the post. 'Users will start to see the third-party chat option when a third-party messaging service has built, tested and launched the necessary technology to make the feature a positive and secure user experience.'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.