Feature Request: Separate Contact Appearance for WhatsApp

Current Behavior

When using WhatsApp with OpenClaw in selfChatMode, the assistant appears as the user talking to themselves rather than as a distinct contact. This makes it less clear that you're interacting with an AI assistant.

Desired Behavior

The assistant (e.g., "Jeeves") should appear as a separate, named contact in WhatsApp conversations, making it clear you're chatting with an AI assistant.

Current Workaround

According to the assistant's response, the current workaround requires:

1. Secondary phone number: Obtain a number that can receive SMS verification (old SIM, cheap eSIM like GiffGaff/Lyca, or virtual number service)
2. Link new number to OpenClaw: Generate QR code and use "Link a Device" in WhatsApp with the secondary number
3. Update configuration: Modify openclaw.json to:
   • Disable selfChatMode
   • Add primary number to authorized users for the new "assistant" account

Proposed Improvement

Simplify this process or provide better documentation/tooling for:

• Setting up WhatsApp with a distinct assistant identity
• Managing secondary number requirements
• Configuring the assistant as a separate contact without manual JSON editing

Configuration Context

{
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "selfChatMode": true,
      "dmPolicy": "allowlist",
      "allowFrom": ["+447767278403"]
    }
  }
}

Use Case

Users who want their AI assistant to have a distinct identity in messaging apps, making it clearer when they're interacting with AI vs. themselves.

Environment

• OpenClaw version: 2026.2.6-3
• Platform: macOS (Darwin 25.2.0)
• Channel: WhatsApp (native plugin)