2024-02-29 09:42:17
People don’t like to give out their cell phone number. Nevertheless, it is the central anchor of many messengers – including Signal. But something is happening there now.
The use of user names has started in beta testing at Messenger Signal. In the future, contacts will be made using these names – as an alternative to cell phone numbers.
In addition, the visibility of the cell phone number should be made invisible by default in the next app version – at least for contacts that are not in your own smartphone address book. You can check this out at:
- Settings / Privacy / Phone number / Who can see my number?
The Signal update with the new features will be gradually rolled out to all users over the next few weeks once the beta test is completed.
Names can be freely chosen
It should be possible to share your freely selectable user name with others via a link or a QR code. However, creating a username is generally not a must. If you want to use Signal as before, you can continue to do so.
Usernames can be changed as often as you like and can be deleted completely if you no longer want to have one. Examples of occasions where changing your name can be useful include making contact during a conference or planning a group trip. Once the respective event is over, you change the user name again or delete it.
Can be found by number or name
Also new is the ability to determine how you can search for contacts on Signal. If you don’t want to be found using your cell phone number, you can activate the setting so that new connections can only be made using your user name. This works under:
- Settings / Privacy / Phone number / Who can find me using my number?
Many wanted usernames for large groups
The innovations have fulfilled the wishes of many users. The Signal Foundation, which develops the messenger, explains that there has so far been no option not to share the telephone number, especially in large groups. In principle, the mobile phone number is and remains a prerequisite for registering with Signal.
Signal has already documented the new features on its help pages. In order for everything to work in the future, the latest version of the Signal app must also be installed for the respective contact.