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When I used Android, Signal doubled as a regular SMS app. That meant you would only use Signal, and the recipient would receive the message via Signal if he to
by josteink 7y ago
When I used Android, Signal doubled as a regular SMS app.
That meant you would only use Signal, and the recipient would receive the message via Signal if he too was a user. Basically it worked like iMessage on iOS, but was 100% OSS.
Which from what I can tell, is a thing people here on HN (not to mention /r/Android) are asking for all the time.
Using Signal on iOS though indeed feels weirder because you always need to “discover” who has what IM-service, and then start the corresponding app.
That’s a flaw of iOS though, and not Signal, and all non-iMessage services suffers for that.
- jeltz 7y agoThis was the main reason I never started using Signal. When I tried it some years ago it wanted virtually all permissions on my phone and wanted to replace my SMS client. I also did not like that they wanted my phone number. The SMS replacement should be an optional feature, and they do not need any phone number unless I want to use that feature.
- jtl999 7y agoI registered my Signal account with a burner number not linked to any SIM card, and thus I didn't use it as my SMS app. Don't know if it's default behavior when you register it with the phone number attached to your SIM or not. I agree the permissions (especially the forced contact discovery) is problematic.
- reacharavindh 7y agoI thought of doing the same until I realized that it's a silly workaround. If I ever need to restore my account or forget password or change device, I'd need the same burner phone... it's a burner anymore now is it? And then I gave up because of the forced contact discovery... it's a pity. I wish there was a popular chat service that worked more like Blackberry. Central network but just pseudonymns instead of the phone number.
- acct1771 7y ago> If I ever need to restore my account ..for what?
- Cactus2018 7y agoIf I disable Android "Messages" (Google LLC) app, Signal, which is configured as the default SMS app, stops receiving non-Signal text messages. Occasionally, when an SMS arrives, the Messages app will crash, suggesting to me that Messages is still playing a roll in handling text messages on my Android phone. Where is the line between Messages app and Signal?
- josteink 7y agoGood question. Ask Google or check the android platform source :)