WhatsApp Ends Dependence on Phone Contacts, Introduces Built-in Storage

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature designed to enhance the way users manage contacts across various devices. 

Previously, the messaging app relied on users’ phone contacts, but this new update allows contacts to be stored within WhatsApp itself. 

This simplifies contact management, especially in situations where a phone is lost or when using WhatsApp Web and Windows.

The feature, which is set to roll out soon, enables users to save contacts directly within the app, ensuring that these details are accessible across multiple devices without needing to sync with a phone’s contact list. 

This change will also be useful for those managing both personal and professional contacts separately, particularly if they use multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device.

Among the great elements of this new update is the introduction of Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS), an encrypted system that securely stores contacts. This technology generates an encryption key to protect user data and ensures that saved contacts are linked only to a specific WhatsApp account. 

Again, the platform has partnered with Cloudflare to safeguard the cryptographic integrity of the contact list, preventing any unauthorised alterations.

In the future, WhatsApp aims to introduce usernames, allowing users to share contact details without disclosing their phone numbers. This added privacy feature could reduce the risk of spam and unwanted messages, as it allows for a higher level of anonymity. 

The introduction of usernames is already available on rival platforms like Signal and Telegram, but WhatsApp hopes this will offer its users a similar privacy option.

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