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Signal Blog: Keep your phone number private with Signal usernames (signal.org)

submitted 8 months ago by UNIX84@beehaw.org to c/foss@beehaw.org

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Finally, we can have usernames in Signal instead of giving our phone number to everybody.

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[–] smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

In my region everyone uses Facebook Messenger. And if you don't use it, to contant people that won't install an app for you (like meeting you for first time), the only option is SMS.

[–] Killing_Spark@feddit.de 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean to be honest to only reason to use messengers is just costs, I wish SMS where as cheap as internet flatrates... But that might very well be a regional issue too

[–] smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Just cost? Absolutely no. Internet protocols are better in so many ways that phone based messaging should be obsolete for years.

[–] Killing_Spark@feddit.de 5 points 8 months ago

Internet protocols are better in so many ways

This is VERY debatable because statements that broad are almost always false. There is no need to have a cellular->IP->cellular bridge for 1:1 communication involving more servers, more service providers. If anyone wanted to they could implement at least the 1:1 signal protocol and probably even the messaging layer security protocol on top of SMS to get e2ee group communications.

Nobody wants to because cell providers sell SMS for horrendous prices compared to internet access.