WhatsApp Plans Shift to Usernames from Phone Numbers
Handle-based messaging could curb spam and unlock new revenue through dynamic pricing, even as regulators tighten SIM-linked account verification
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Meta’s WhatsApp is preparing to introduce unique usernames and IDs as early as June 2026, allowing users to message or make calls without sharing phone numbers, The Economic Times reported, citing people aware of the matter.
The move marks a shift away from telecom-linked identities and is expected to improve privacy and reduce spam. Users and businesses will be able to reserve handles, similar to Instagram, though phone numbers will remain optional to avoid user migration to rival platforms such as Telegram and Signal, the report said.
Despite the impending change, India’s telecom rules continue to require SIM-based verification.
Under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, notified by the Department of Telecommunications on 28 November 2025, platforms must link accounts to SIM cards used during registration.
The rules came into force on 1 March after a 90-day compliance window, with implementation reports due by 28 March.
Separately, WhatsApp is reportedly testing a dynamic pricing model for business messaging, allowing enterprises to bid in real time for bulk message delivery.
Beta trials are expected through the second half of 2026, with a broader rollout planned for 2027.
The combined push signals a shift toward a more private, handle-based user layer alongside a more monetized business messaging model, even as regulatory oversight tightens.
