WhatsApp continues to build on upcoming username feature

As one of the world’s most popular messaging apps, the developers of WhatsApp need to ensure that their app works seamlessly across multiple platforms (Android, iOS, desktop, etc.). This means ensuring parity when it comes to feature additions so that everyone can use chat apps as intended. Since May last year, we’ve learned that WhatsApp has been working on allowing you to set your username within the app. We didn’t know much about this feature until a beta released it in its early stages in December. Username verification has been introduced to his WhatsApp Business beta for iOS via his TestFlight, and the WhatsApp developer is now nearing a wide rollout to all platforms.

This particular feature addition was discovered by WABetaInfo, which closely monitors Android and iOS beta versions to see if they include new features. A screenshot provided by this site reveals how custom usernames are validated. However, there is a disclaimer that only alphanumeric characters are allowed. az or 0-9. Naturally, usernames must be unique. This means that if the name you want is already taken, you may need to try some variations. This particular verification screen is visible in the WhatsApp Business app, but regular accounts are expected to follow a similar process for usernames across all platforms.

When it comes to WhatsApp usernames, we haven’t seen much progress since the beta update in December, when we learned how to search for other users by their username. It is worth noting that the username was also long awaited, since in October he appeared in the WhatsApp iOS beta. This is by no means a new addition, as almost all other major messaging apps support usernames.

With the full adoption of usernames, WhatsApp wants users to be able to keep their phone numbers private. Currently, you need a phone number to communicate with people on WhatsApp. We don’t expect WhatsApp to do away with the phone number requirement for new accounts, but allowing accounts to set a username is a good way to ensure that contact numbers are only shared with trusted individuals. . You also have the benefit of coming up with a catchy, easy-to-remember username, which is easier to remember than the full phone number.

According to WABetaInfo, the username feature is still in development and there is no word on when a broader release will occur. WhatsApp would like to give it another two to three months to ensure polishing for Android, iOS, and web/desktop apps. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also working on allowing channel owners to give their accounts usernames so that followers can more easily identify their channels. This rollout took place in a limited capacity in his WhatsApp beta for Android, but since then no significant progress has been made in this regard.