Popular mobile phone app WhatsApp is all set to introduce a new username feature for the Android beta version, WABetaInfo reported.

The latest feature, which is under development at the moment, will be a new update in the profile section of the app, which asks users to choose their own unique handle rather than adding phone number.

The latest feature brings WhatsApp one step closer to how people communicate on fellow Meta-owned app Instagram, though not much is known about how a username will work on the messaging app.

The new option could mean a significant change in how people find each other on WhatsApp and increase their privacy — instead of a person needing to share their personal phone number or QR code to chat, a user-chosen username might be enough.

Meanwhile, the end-to-end encryption is said to still be deployed on WhatsApp conversations started by username.

Moreover, WhatsApp has yet to set a release date or even confirm the feature. It will likely be offered to beta users first before rolling out across other devices.