India, June 30 -- WhatsApp users will soon have a new way to connect without revealing their phone numbers. Ahead of a broader update planned for later this year, the messaging platform has started rolling out username reservations, allowing people to claim a unique handle before the feature becomes widely available.

The move marks one of WhatsApp's biggest privacy-focused changes, giving users the option to start conversations using a username instead of sharing their mobile number. The company announced the feature in an official blog post on Monday, saying the rollout will happen gradually over the coming months, according to a WhatsApp

WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve a username in advance so they have a better chance of...