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This feature will enable third-party chats on WhatsApp.
In the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, a new feature called 'Third-party chats' has been spotted by WABetaInfo. It essentially means that WhatsApp will enable cross-platform messaging on the app. So people who don't have a WhatsApp account will still be able to message users on the app. One example as pointed out by WABetaInfo would be a Signal user being able to message someone on WhatsApp.
As seen in the screenshot above, this feature is currently in development. But what it indicates is possibly a separate tab for third-party chats so users can access messages that have been sent by non-WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp is built on end-to-end encryption so with cross-platform messaging it's interesting to see how Meta plans to carry it out. Also, this feature might be exclusive only in the EU since it rose out of compliance with the Act. WhatsApp has until March 2024 to enable this feature for users in the EU.
This is the first we're seeing of cross-platform messaging on WhatsApp. But with the feature in development, we're expecting more details soon.
Separately, WhatsApp is also working on multi-account support that will let you use two accounts on the same app. This feature is currently in testing on Android, and based on the screenshot shared you can add two WhatsApp accounts on the same app. So if you're using two numbers on one phone, and run WhatsApp on both you'll be able to do so in a single app with this feature.