WhatsApp To Allow Users Replace Phone Number with Username

Hyderabad: Messaging platform WhatsApp is planning to roll out one more feature to the Meta-owned application in the coming days. The addition of features is a strategy adopted by its company to withstand the tough competition from its rivals Telegram and Signal.

In addition to the numerous features and tools rolled out in the recent past, WhatsApp is planning to allow its users choose usernames instead of phone numbers.

This feature will enable users to opt for unique and memorable username, instead of depending solely on phone numbers to identify contacts, according to WABetaInfo.

According to a screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is actively working on bringing the username features in the platform’s settings.

The users will have the option of using this feature directly through the instant-messaging platform's Settings menu incorporated in the Profile section. The company is working on introducing the feature in a section dedicated to it specifically.

The company may also provide users with the ability to contact others by entering a username within the app, even when they do not know their phone numbers.

The option of using a username will help the users to add an additional layer of privacy to their accounts, said the report.

At present, the WhatsApp username feature is under development will soon be released to beta testers in a future update of the app.

Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that billions of WhatsApp users can now modify a message within 15 minutes of sending it. This feature will be available for use across the world in the coming week. For this, the user needs to long-press on a sent message and select 'Edit' from the menu to do the necessary change, within 15 minutes of sending it.