WhatsApp Is on Its Way to Ditching Phone Numbers and Switching to Usernames

Traditionally, WhatsApp requires you to save new contacts from your smartphone. This works fine in many situations, since many of us pick up WhatsApp conversations from our phones. However, the downside is you can't save new contacts from other devices you might use WhatsApp with, and you run the risk of losing contacts if something happens to your smartphone.

It's particularly a problem in the age when WhatsApp wants to be everywhere, with cross-device syncing between your smartphone, web, and desktop apps. If you wanted to add a new contact while using WhatsApp on your computer, for example, too bad: You needed to use your smartphone.

Now, however, WhatsApp is fixing the issue: The company announced on Tuesday that WhatsApp will soon let you add and store your contacts on any device, including the web or the desktop app, meaning you will no longer need to open your smartphone app just to save a contact.

In addition, WhatsApp will let you save contacts directly to the app, rather than through your device's contacts. This can be handy, especially for business users, now that WhatsApp lets you run two different accounts on one device. You can save contacts to your business WhatsApp account without crowding your phone's contact book.

According to WhatsApp, the contacts will be saved using a new encrypted storage system called Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS). The system will generate an encrypted key every time you save a contact. In effect, your saved contacts are protected by encryption: Only you can retrieve your contacts from WhatsApp's servers.

A post-contacts era is coming soon

WhatsApp is also planning to roll out usernames to its platform. As the company envisions, usernames will be more private than traditional contacts, as you'll be able to share a username (that you can edit and control), without revealing your phone number to others. Any chance to avoid giving out your phone number is worthwhile.

The new contacts feature will start rolling out gradually over the next few weeks and months, depending on where in the world you're located. The usernames feature is still very much in the works, and WhatsApp hasn't provided a core ETA yet.