Khaberni - WhatsApp is preparing to launch one of its most anticipated features since its inception, the "Username," which will allow users to choose a unique name for their accounts, eliminating the need to share phone numbers when communicating with others.
This step represents a significant shift in how the app operates, which has relied on phone numbers as the primary identity for users since its beginning. With the new feature, the username will appear instead of the number when messaging people who are not saved in the contact list, enhancing privacy and giving users more freedom in managing their accounts, according to the "Android Headlines" website.
Reserve the name in advance before the official launch
WABetaInfo, a site specializing in tracking WhatsApp updates, notes that the latest beta version of the app on Android (version 2.25.29.14) revealed a new feature that allows users to reserve usernames in advance before the feature is activated widely.
Users will find this option under a new section labeled "Username" in the profile tab, with a clear notice stating: "Usernames are coming soon... reserve your name today."
This step aims to give early users a chance to secure their preferred names before the feature becomes officially available to all accounts in the upcoming update.
Strict rules
The company imposes a set of precise technical controls for choosing a username, most notably: the name may not start with "www." or end with a domain such as ".com" or ".net", and it must contain at least one letter.
The controls also include allowing only the use of lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), dots (.), and underscores (_).
The name may not start or end with a dot, and it must be between 3 and 30 characters long.
Once the name is reserved, the user is granted an exclusive right to use it as soon as the feature is officially activated, without the possibility of losing it to another user.
Gradual launch
Although Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, has not yet announced the official launch date of the feature, technical indicators suggest that it is nearing a gradual rollout to application users worldwide to ensure performance stability and monitor interactions before finally generalizing it.
Technology experts believe that this step represents a qualitative development in the course of WhatsApp, as it will redefine the way of communication within the app and put it in direct competition with Telegram, which has offered this feature for years, while at the same time raising the security and privacy levels for users.
