A new WhatsApp update will soon allow you to send messages on the app to friends who use other messaging apps such as Messenger, Telegram and Signal.
The most popular messaging app on the planet will soon let you send texts to those who don’t even have the app – marking a major change for the platform.
The change comes after the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which stipulates that tech companies ensure interoperability between their apps and third-party apps.
Meta, who own Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, say they hope to give other features such as typing indicators, read receipts and more for all chats with third-party apps.
And those worried about their privacy should feel relieved, as encryption will remain standard in all of the messages on WhatsApp.
It’s thought the changes could be introduced as early as 2025 for texts, with video calls and phone capabilities set to come out in 2027.
The changes will only be implemented in EU member states, however.
In May, WhatsApp unveiled a major new update, giving users a darker dark mode and other new capabilites.
The updated aesthetic saw the famous block of the colour disappear from the top of the app, with the lighter shade confined only to the logo and notification icons.
The app also had a new layout to make it easier for people to add attachments, such as media, polls and documents, as well as filtering through existing conversations to find the messages they’re looking for.
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