Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp introduced a new feature that allows users to directly store contact information within the app. The company also announced a bunch of updates that will eventually enable users to save these contacts by usernames. In a blog post, Meta said that the new feature is "ideal for when you are sharing your phone with others or if you want to separate personal and business contacts" and will make it easier to manage multiple WhatsApp accounts on a device. Another nifty addition is that these WhatsApp-exclusive contacts will be automatically backed up on the cloud. This is useful if you lose your phone or switch or reset your device as your contacts will be restored. The WhatsApp-exclusive contacts will be stored using a new encryption system dubbed "Identity Proof Linked Storage" (IPLS). Meta says IPLS allows users to either "save their contacts and automatically restore them directly through WhatsApp" or save them locally within WhatsApp and choose which ones they want to sync with the cloud. Since contacts saved in WhatsApp are linked to the phone number, they will also be available on linked devices. And in case you happen to have multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device like a personal or business account, the app will let you customise the contact list. Developed in collaboration with Cloudflare, Meta says the IPLS system checks for modifications to the cryptographic properties of the directory to ensure that the contacts aren't tampered with in any way. WhatsApp also said it the new technology will "eventually" manage and save contacts by usernames. Unlike Telegram and Signal, WhatsApp has yet to switch to usernames. However, in the last few months, the company has been reportedly working on the ability to share usernames instead of phone numbers, a feature that will make WhatsApp more secure and add an extra layer of privacy. However, the company is yet to share a timeline on when it will be switching to usernames.
