Meta’s social messaging app, WhatsApp, is always working on enhancing the user experience on its platform, and through the TestFlight beta Program which brought the version up to 24.3.10.70, WhatsApp is working on a favorite contacts filter. This feature which is currently under development on the iOS app, will allow users to designate favorite contacts for “a more convenient call placement!” according to WABetaInfo.
The update will place favorite contacts at the top of the calls tab so a phone call is always just one tap away. A similar feature is also under development and will appear in a future update of WhatsApp Web. This update will enable users to filter chat lists by also displaying their favorite contacts. According to the report, WhatsApp users will be able to manually select their favorite contacts and reach them easily through this dedicated filter.
“By allowing users to mark specific contacts as favorites, WhatsApp enables them to prioritize key conversations, ensuring quick and easy access to those they frequently interact with,” the report said.
“The introduction of favorite contacts not only simplifies the process of reaching out to frequently contacted users but also adds a layer of customization, allowing them to improve their messaging experience to suit their preferences,” it added.
Meanwhile, WABetaInfo also reports that the messaging platform is continuing its work on implementing username support by refining the validation process. The feature which is still under development will make it easier for users to chat with other people without sharing their phone numbers. Once officially rolled out, Users will be able to choose a username right within profile settings. However, WhatsApp usernames will only accept alphanumeric characters and some special characters, with no discriminators making usernames on WhatsApp unique.
WABetaInfo mentions that using a username on WhatsApp will be optional, “and the phone number associated with an account that initiated a chat through a username will always remain concealed, as long as the people in the conversation do not already know each other’s phone numbers.”
