Billions of WhatsApp users could soon find they need to add a user name to their account in one of the biggest ever changes to this massively popular service. It's thought that the Meta-owned platform is working on this new feature which will finally allow its fans to chat without sharing their phone number or real name.
Think of it a bit like Twitter where users get the option to pick any nickname that can be added to an account.
Although WhatsApp is staying tight-lipped about the change, the ever-reliable team at WAbetainfo have spotted it in a beta version of upcoming software.
These tests are often pushed out long before a real update is released to the public as it gives firms, such as WhatsApp, time to check for bugs, glitches and unseen issues.
"After installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.11.15 update from the Google Play Store, we spotted a significant feature during our usual exploration of the new build. In particular, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a username feature, allowing users to choose unique usernames for their accounts," explained WAbetainfo.
The team, which monitors new features coming to the platform, reckon it will "revolutionise the way we communicate on WhatsApp in the future."
There's currently no word on when, or if, it will be released to the public but it will certainly make chatting to businesses or joining massive group chats a lot less daunting as nobody will ever see your phone number.
Although this upgrade is just being tested for now, WhatsApp has released something you can try much sooner.
The company has just announced that all iPhone and Android users will soon to be able tweak what they've said, add emojis and fix typos after they punched the send button.
"For the moments when you make a mistake, or simply change your mind, you can now edit your sent messages," WhatsApp said in a post on its blog. "From correcting a simple misspelling to adding extra context to a message, we’re excited to bring you more control over your chats."
