BirdyChat Becomes Europe’s First WhatsApp-Interoperable Chat App

BirdyChat has achieved a notable milestone in the European messaging landscape by becoming the first chat application to offer full interoperability with WhatsApp. This integration, enabled by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), allows users of the work-focused chat platform to communicate directly with WhatsApp users without requiring either party to switch applications.

The development, announced on November 14, 2025, comes as WhatsApp begins rolling out its mandated interoperability support across Europe. For BirdyChat, which positions itself as a dedicated home for work conversations, this represents a critical step in removing adoption friction. Previously, BirdyChat users could only message others who had already downloaded the app, creating a chicken-and-egg problem that slowed organizational uptake.

The DMA's Practical Impact on Messaging

The Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2024, designated WhatsApp as a "gatekeeper" platform requiring interoperability with smaller messaging services. BirdyChat is leveraging WhatsApp's official Third-Party Chats interface—a technical specification released earlier this year—to establish this connection. The company emphasizes that it's using sanctioned methods rather than workarounds or reverse-engineered APIs.

This interoperability works through a straightforward mechanism: any BirdyChat user in the European Economic Area (EEA) can initiate a conversation with a WhatsApp user by simply knowing their phone number. The WhatsApp user receives the message in their standard WhatsApp interface, while the BirdyChat user maintains their existing BirdyChat experience. Messages, photos, and files flow bidirectionally, with all communications protected by end-to-end encryption.

Technical Implementation and Limitations

BirdyChat's integration currently supports one-to-one chats, with group chat interoperability planned for a future update. The company notes that both parties must be located within the EEA for the feature to function, as WhatsApp's interoperability rollout is region-specific. Availability may vary slightly between countries as WhatsApp continues its phased deployment.

A distinctive aspect of BirdyChat's approach is its identity model. Unlike WhatsApp, which ties accounts to personal phone numbers, BirdyChat allows users to authenticate using their work email addresses. This design choice aims to maintain clearer separation between professional and personal communications while still enabling connectivity with the broader WhatsApp ecosystem.

Market Implications and Strategic Positioning

For BirdyChat, this interoperability addresses what the company identifies as its primary adoption barrier. Organizations considering a switch to a dedicated work chat platform often hesitate because key stakeholders or external partners remain on WhatsApp. By bridging this gap, BirdyChat can position itself as a transitional tool—allowing teams to consolidate work communications in a more organized environment while maintaining necessary connections to the broader messaging landscape.

The development also highlights the practical implications of the DMA beyond its regulatory framework. While the law was designed to prevent gatekeeper platforms from stifling competition, its implementation is creating new technical pathways that smaller applications can leverage. BirdyChat's approach demonstrates how compliance-driven interfaces can become strategic business opportunities.

Availability and Access

BirdyChat remains an invite-only platform as it scales access. The company has opened a waitlist for users interested in early access to the WhatsApp interoperability feature, requiring a work email for registration. This controlled rollout suggests BirdyChat is managing growth carefully, possibly to ensure infrastructure stability as it handles cross-platform messaging traffic.

The gradual rollout of interoperability across Europe means that users in different countries may gain access at different times. Both BirdyChat and WhatsApp users need to be in the EEA for the feature to work, creating a geographic boundary that may evolve as regulatory frameworks develop in other regions.

Looking Ahead

BirdyChat's WhatsApp interoperability represents more than a feature addition—it signals a potential shift in how work-focused chat applications approach market entry. Rather than attempting to replace WhatsApp entirely, BirdyChat is positioning itself as a complementary tool that enhances organizational communication while respecting existing user preferences.

As WhatsApp continues its interoperability rollout and other gatekeeper platforms face similar requirements, we may see more applications following BirdyChat's lead. The success of this integration could influence how other work chat platforms approach interoperability, potentially creating a more connected but still segmented messaging ecosystem.

For organizations evaluating chat platforms, BirdyChat's development offers a practical consideration: the ability to adopt a work-focused tool without completely abandoning the broader messaging network. This balance between specialization and connectivity may become increasingly important as the digital workplace continues to evolve.

BirdyChat's official announcement and waitlist are available on their blog. The company's approach to interoperability reflects the ongoing tension between platform consolidation and user choice—a dynamic that the Digital Markets Act aims to reshape through technical mandates rather than market forces alone.