WhatsApp has introduced an exciting new feature that enables users to save contacts directly within the app. This means that even if you lose your phone or switch to a new device, your contacts will remain safely stored in WhatsApp’s cloud storage, ensuring seamless access.
Previously, WhatsApp depended on your phone’s contact list to manage and sync contacts. Any new contact you saved was stored locally on your phone. However, this latest update allows users to securely save contacts within WhatsApp, available across multiple devices, including WhatsApp Web and Windows. Additionally, users will have the option to sync WhatsApp-saved contacts with their phone’s contact list for added flexibility.
This feature is particularly useful for users with multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device, such as personal and business accounts. Now, you can maintain distinct contact lists for each account, even on a shared device. This ensures your business and personal contacts remain separate and organized.
To ensure the security of this contact-saving feature, WhatsApp has developed a new encrypted storage system called Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS). Each time you save a contact, an encryption key is generated on your device, making retrieval secure through primary device authentication. The app has also partnered with Cloudflare to safeguard the cryptographic integrity of user directories, ensuring that no unauthorized changes are made to stored contacts.
Beyond this contact-saving enhancement, WhatsApp has hinted at an exciting new feature — usernames. According to a company blog post, WhatsApp will soon introduce usernames, allowing users to share a username rather than a phone number when connecting with others. This added layer of privacy is designed to enhance user control over their contact details. Competitors like Signal and Telegram already offer similar username-based connections, and WhatsApp’s new feature is expected to launch soon.
The ability to store contacts directly within the app and share usernames marks a significant improvement in how users manage privacy and communication on WhatsApp.
