WhatsApp’s New Contact Saving Feature: Cloud Storage and Enhanced Privacy

WhatsApp is rolling out a game-changing feature that will allow users to save contacts directly within the app. This new function ensures that even if you lose your phone or switch to a new device, all your WhatsApp contacts are safely stored in the cloud. Let’s explore what this feature offers, how it enhances security, and why it could be a big deal for both personal and business communication.

Moving Beyond the Traditional Contact Book

Until now, WhatsApp has relied on your phone’s contact list to sync new contacts. When a new person messages you, and you decide to save their details, that information is stored locally on your device. But with this update, WhatsApp introduces cloud-based contact storage, giving you the flexibility to access your saved contacts across devices, including WhatsApp for the web and Windows. You’ll still have the option to sync these contacts back to your phone if you choose.

Dual WhatsApp Accounts on a Single Device

WhatsApp’s contact saving feature builds on last year’s update, which allowed users to log into two accounts on one device. Now, saving contacts for each account makes it easier to separate personal and professional contacts, an invaluable feature for users who manage both within the same app. If you share your device, having separate contact lists linked to your respective WhatsApp numbers brings an added layer of organization.

Security First: Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS)

To keep contact information safe, WhatsApp developed an encrypted storage solution known as Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS). Each contact stored generates a unique encryption key based on the device’s identity, ensuring that only authenticated devices can retrieve these contacts. This advanced encryption method adds another layer of security and peace of mind for users who rely on WhatsApp for personal and professional communication.

Partnership with Cloudflare for Extra Safeguards

WhatsApp is taking extra steps to secure this contact-saving feature through a partnership with Cloudflare. By using Cloudflare’s technology to sign changes to the cryptographic properties of a user’s contact directory, WhatsApp ensures no unauthorized edits go unnoticed. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has stated that these cryptographic checks guarantee that contacts saved within WhatsApp remain untouched by anyone else.

Enhanced Privacy with Username-Based Contacts

This feature rollout aligns with WhatsApp’s plan to introduce usernames, an added privacy layer that allows users to connect without sharing their phone numbers. By enabling contact storage through usernames, WhatsApp will soon let users share their username instead of their number, a concept already popularized by competitors like Signal and Telegram. This change represents a new era in private communication, offering users a higher degree of privacy and control over their contacts.

If you’re managing contacts and transferring data, you’ll benefit from using the Smart Transfer app. This third-party app is an effective network speed indicator tool with a built-in network speed checker, allowing you to track real-time internet speeds. This is especially helpful for intensive tasks like transferring files. Smart Transfer’s fast share feature also simplifies data transfer between devices, making it a must-have for users who frequently switch phones or handle large files.

Future Innovations: The Path to a Username-Driven Ecosystem

In May 2023, WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp was developing a username feature, drawing inspiration from platforms like Telegram and Signal. With the new contact-saving capabilities and usernames on the horizon, WhatsApp is not only catching up with its rivals but creating a seamless, privacy-centered experience for its users.

When Can You Expect This Update?

The contact-saving feature, alongside usernames, is currently in a phased rollout, and users can expect it to be available in the coming weeks. If privacy, convenience, and security are essential to you, this latest update promises to elevate WhatsApp as a more secure and user-friendly communication platform.

WhatsApp’s cloud-based contact storage and Smart Transfer’s network monitoring make managing contacts across devices more streamlined than ever.