Key takeaways
- Your profile has a name, an optional @username and a photo.
- People can find you by @username and message you directly.
- You can sign up with email and use a username, without giving a phone number.
- Direct messages are private; group messages can be audited by team owners and admins.
- Block and report are available if someone misuses your handle.
A phone number is a lot to hand out. Once a client, a temporary contractor or a guest has your personal number, they have it forever, on every app. Many staff, especially in service and security roles, would rather not share it. An @username gives them a work identity in C Chat that people can reach without ever seeing the number behind it.
What @usernames and profiles do in C Chat
Every C Chat profile has three parts:
| Field | Required | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | How you appear in groups and messages |
| @username | No | A handle people can search to message you |
| Photo | No | Helps others recognize you |
With an @username, anyone on C Chat can find you and start a direct message. Without one, people can still reach you if they have your number in their contacts (through private contact matching) or if they share a team with you.
If you want to keep your number entirely out of the picture, sign up with email and use your @username as your work handle.
How to set up your @username step by step
- Sign up at getcchat.com/c with your phone or email.
- Enter your name as colleagues know you.
- Choose an @username that is easy to say out loud and spell.
- Add a clear photo, ideally the same style the rest of the team uses.
- Share your @username where you’d normally give your number: an email signature, a business card or a site notice.
Real scenarios from business teams
Concierges and front desks. A building concierge shares the front desk’s @username with residents instead of a personal number. When staff rotate, residents keep using the same handle for the desk account.
Security guards and clients. A guard who talks to a client contact doesn’t need to give out a personal number; the client messages the handle. In CGuard Pro site groups, the client already sees the guards on duty, so even fewer direct contacts are needed.
Freelancers and contractors. An electrician who works with several companies uses one @username for all of them, and each company invites them to the groups they need.
Moving off personal groups. When a team decides to move work off personal WhatsApp groups, usernames are part of what makes the switch feel safer for staff. The differences between the two apps are laid out in C Chat vs WhatsApp for business teams.
Privacy, permissions and limits
An @username is designed to be found. Treat it like a work email: easy to share, nothing secret in it.
- No requests: anyone who knows your handle can message you. Use block and report for unwanted contact.
- Direct messages stay private from team owners and admins, as explained in why direct messages stay private. Group messages are part of the team’s auditable record.
- Phone numbers stay protected in contact matching: they are hashed with SHA-256 on the device and the server doesn’t store the hashes. Read more in how contact matching protects phone numbers.
- Encryption: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest with per-organization keys for everything you send.
For a full answer to “who sees what”, read who can read my messages in C Chat.
Tips for admins
- Recommend usernames for client-facing roles such as reception, concierge and site supervisors.
- Agree on a naming style, for example first name plus surname, so people can guess a colleague’s handle.
- Don’t make staff share personal numbers with guests when an @username will do. This matters even more on personal phones used for work.
- Use shared accounts carefully. A front desk account is convenient, but make sure only current staff can sign in to it.
Our business messaging security guide has more practical rules you can adopt. For sensitive one-to-one matters, see private conversations at work.
Getting started
Create your account at getcchat.com/c, pick your @username and share it instead of your number. C Chat is free for now; see pricing for the limits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use C Chat without sharing my phone number?
Yes. You can sign up with an email address instead of a phone number, and set an @username so colleagues and clients can find you by that handle.
Is an @username required?
No. The username is optional. Without one, people can still reach you through phone contact matching or as a member of a team you share.
Who can message me if they know my @username?
Any C Chat user can start a direct message with you; there are no message requests. If someone sends unwanted messages, block them and report the conversation.
What makes a good work @username?
Something recognizable and professional, such as your first name plus surname or your role at a site. Avoid personal details like birth year, home address or nicknames you wouldn't use with a client.