If the function prospers, users of iMessage, WhatsApp , Messenger, Telegram and more will be able to send messages to each other.
The European Union ‘s recently agreed Digital Markets Law could require messaging app developers to make their apps work together if it ends up taking effect in October as expected.
In the bloc’s press release, it is mentioned that lawmakers agreed that the “gatekeeper” companies behind WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or iMessage would have to make their apps “interoperable” with smaller messaging platforms at the request of developers.
“During a tripartite dialogue of about 8 hours (trilogue talks between Parliament, Council and Commission), EU legislators agreed that the largest messaging services (such as Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger or iMessage) will have to open up and interoperate with smaller messaging platforms if requested,” he says.
“Users of small or large platforms could exchange messages, send files or make video calls through messaging applications, which would give them more options,” he stresses.
not sure yet
While the law has yet to pass, the EU language could force companies like Apple and Meta to open up systems they previously controlled completely. For example: You can only send iMessages using Apple’s iMessage app , which only runs on your devices. It appears that the block wants to force Apple to allow other messaging apps to interact with iMessage, meaning you could have a conversation between an iMessage user on an iPhone and a Telegram user on a Windows PC.
The language in the press release is unclear about whether the big apps would have to work together, but the European Union says it is trying to tear down the walls around the walled gardens, without over-regulating small companies.
Creating this type of interoperability, especially when it comes to encryption, is likely to be complex. Therefore, the final agreement is expected to include staggered timelines to accommodate different levels of interoperability, according to a spokesperson for the European Union who spoke to The Verge . For example, “gatekeepers” may only have three months to make one-to-one messaging compatible, but could be given two years to make group texting interoperable, or four years for audio or video calls. .
