WhatsApp has always focused on phone numbers as the primary way users can find and contact each other, and it has made various improvements to the same over the years. For example, for a long time a number needed to be saved as a contact before it could be discovered through WhatsApp's search functionality, but one can now start chats with unsaved numbers as well.
WhatsApp has also been working on the ability for users to choose a username, which would make it possible for people to find users without knowing their phone numbers. The feature has been in testing for more than six months and has yet to be officially released, suggesting that development has been slow, but it's possible an official rollout may happen sooner rather than later as more username-related functionality has now been discovered in the app.
In the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android devices, the folks over at WABetaInfo have discovered that the search button in WhatsApp now allows searching for names, usernames, and numbers. We can't see the username search function in action just yet, but that may change in updates to the app in the near future.
It's unclear how usernames in WhatsApp will work, including whether or not users will be allowed to change their username after claiming it. More details will hopefully make their way online soon, and you can bet we will let you know whenever that happens.
