New Delhi, June 30 -- WhatsApp on Monday, June 29, began allowing users worldwide to reserve usernames, a feature that will let people connect on the messaging platform without sharing their phone numbers, the Meta-owned company said.

The reservation process began rolling out from Monday, giving users a head start on claiming a username of their choice before the feature itself becomes functional within the app later this year. Users will be notified in-app once they can begin using their reserved handle.

A username, the company said, offers people a way to be reached on WhatsApp without revealing their digits. Users can pick any name of their choosing, independent of handles they may use on other platforms.

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