All articles tagged with #cross platform messaging
A report suggests Apple is testing a new RCS profile and end-to-end encryption in iOS 26.3 Beta 2 to improve cross-platform messaging with Galaxy devices. RCS Universal Profile 3.0 adds E2EE, plus features like Tapback, inline replies, and edit/unsend, with four French carriers currently showing the code; Apple may also collaborate with Google to boost Android-to-iPhone RCS availability.
WhatsApp is developing synchronized chat locks, a new feature that will automatically mirror chat lock settings across all linked devices, enhancing user privacy and simplifying security measures. This advancement builds upon previous privacy-focused features and aims to offer a comprehensive approach to data security. Additionally, WhatsApp is exploring the potential for cross-platform messaging, allowing communication between WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, demonstrating the platform's commitment to evolving to meet the evolving needs of its users.
Beeper Mini, an Android app that brought iMessage functionality to Android users, is back with some major changes. The new version of the app requires users to sign in with an Apple ID and sends and receives iMessages through an email address instead of a phone number. The prior version of Beeper Mini registered Android users' phone numbers with Apple's iMessage servers without permission, leading to its shutdown by Apple. Despite reaching out to Apple, Beeper Mini's developers have not received a response. Apple plans to bring iMessage-like features to chats between iMessage and Android users through RCS next year.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has quietly updated its support pages to announce that users will no longer be able to message their Facebook contacts through Instagram. The feature will be discontinued in mid-December, although the exact date has not been specified. Existing chats on Instagram will become read-only, but new cross-platform conversations will not be possible. Meta has not provided a specific reason for this discontinuation, but it comes amidst efforts to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act and implement end-to-end encryption for Messenger users.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on cross-platform compatibility with the introduction of a new screen called "Third-party chats" in its Android beta update. This development aligns with the European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires gatekeepers like WhatsApp to interoperate with third-party messaging apps by March 2024. The DMA aims to prevent gatekeepers from imposing unfair conditions and ensure the openness of important digital services. Meta and Microsoft are also planning their own mobile app stores in response to the DMA, while the European Commission is investigating whether Apple's iMessage and Microsoft's Bing search engine, Edge browser, and advertising service comply with the new regulation.