WhatsApp is set to launch a significant update aimed at simplifying the management of contacts on linked devices. Currently, for a contact to appear in WhatsApp with the saved name, users must add it through their primary device. This process is about to change, as WhatsApp prepares to introduce new functionalities that will allow users to manage contacts directly on WhatsApp for Web, Windows, and other linked platforms.
In a recent blog post, WhatsApp noted that the existing method of adding contacts is limited to saving them on the primary device or utilizing QR code scanning. With the upcoming enhancements, users will have the flexibility to add or manage their contacts from any device. This feature will debut on WhatsApp Web and Windows, with plans for expansion to other linked devices in the future.
Additionally, WhatsApp is launching another significant feature that allows users to save contacts solely on the platform. This addition is particularly useful for individuals looking to maintain a separation between personal and professional contacts or those who share their devices. Users will now have the option to designate certain contacts for WhatsApp storage only, without syncing them to their smartphones.
This feature will utilize a new encrypted storage system known as Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS), which harnesses key transparency and WhatsApp’s hardware security module (HSM) technologies. According to WhatsApp, contact information will be safeguarded by a robust encryption key produced on the user’s device, with retrieval contingent on the authentication of the primary device’s identity. Contacts saved exclusively on WhatsApp can be restored should the user lose their phone or switch devices, and they will have the capability to organize or customize contact lists for different accounts managed on the same device.
With these innovations, WhatsApp envisions a future where users may manage and save contacts based on usernames. The platform asserts this approach would enhance user privacy, eliminating the need to exchange phone numbers to initiate conversations on the app.
