Bit difficult to keep using it since they killed sms interoperability. I understand the security concerns but if no one uses it, doesn’t really matter does it.
Signal details costs of keeping its private messaging service alive | TechCrunch
Submitted 11 months ago by Albinjose7345@lemmy.dbzer0.com to privacyguides@lemmy.one
https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/17/signal-costs/
Comments
pg_jglr@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
LollerCorleone@kbin.social 11 months ago
If you were using Signal just for SMS, none of your messages were secure anyway since the SMS protocol itself is not–defeating the purpose of signal. And if you had already convinced people to install Signal by using SMS as a caveat, you can just continue contacting them through the app.
I was able to convince pretty much everyone who matter in my life to install Signal and they all love it because WhatsApp has become too cluttered and spammy.
Kalkaline@leminal.space 11 months ago
I can’t get anyone to use it. They should market it as a workaround for the Android/iPhone/PC messaging issues with privacy and security as a bonus, but I don’t know if iPhone users would go for it.
infectoid@lemmy.world 11 months ago
iPhone user and monthly signal donor here. Have been using it since it was available for signal. Have managed to get everyone I care about to install and use it.
I basically made it the only way to message me and get my attention.
I’m not that special, I just care about my friends and I think they might like me enough to do this one thing for me. At least they know they can cut me out of their lives by uninstalling signal.
moreeni@lemm.ee 11 months ago
It does because it’s code you have to take into account when adding new features. Basically unnecessary pain in the ass.
gilbert31@lemmy.world 11 months ago
It’s a very interesting read, this is the second year in a row that I donate to the project. I encourage you to do it as well.
privacybro@lemmy.ninja 11 months ago
another reason why centralization sucks and distributed/decentralized messengers should rise to the top over time.
milkytoast@kbin.social 11 months ago
does anyone know roughly how much operating costs could be per person? I'd like to donate, but I don't have a whole lot of money. I'd like to at least ensure that I'm covering "my share" so to speak
Vincent@kbin.social 11 months ago
Signal had 40 million active users in 2021. With 14 million in infra cost, that comes to .35 per user/year. Total expenses are about 33 million, so about .825 per user/year. All in all that seems very reasonable.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38291950
So it should be pretty easy to cover your own costs and maybe that of a couple of friends to make the transaction fees worth it :)
milkytoast@kbin.social 11 months ago
so $1 a year would cover it? might as well covery whole family at that point. think I can afford $5 a year lol
HootinNHollerin@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I’ve been donating at 5$/ month for a couple years to help keep it going but I feel I can do that down a bit
Nerrad@lemmy.world 11 months ago
This Lemmy post caused me to start a monthly Signal donation. Support non profit messaging and social media.
Still a bit angry though about them dropping SMS support and forcing me into Google Messages.
Vincent@kbin.social 11 months ago
They were kinda forced to, having to choose between two evils: https://community.signalusers.org/t/signal-blog-removing-sms-support-from-signal-android-very-soon/47954/57
ForestOrca@kbin.social 11 months ago
Same. I've been supporting it for some years now, but I'm upping the ante. I have many friends, family, and business associates I've been able to get on Signal. It's a super useful app, and a crucial privacy service. Let's do what we can to keep it going.
otter@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
The biggest thing for me right now is backups
I can’t comfortably recommend it to people that will lose access if they lose their phones / upgrade without following the process perfectly
Echo5@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Pretty sure Fdroid has a basic messaging app or two that might fit the bill so you don’t have to use google.
Scolding7300@lemmy.world 11 months ago
community.signalusers.org/t/…/57
Apparently there’s no RCS API so any 3rd party app will disappear at some point (if RCS becomes the popular protocol)
nosnahc@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Google Message? Why? QKSMS work well
kurcatovium@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Actually it does not, sadly. I’ve used it for years (probably five or even more) and ditched it couple months ago when I got angry at it. The main problem is I could not force it to accept MMS on newer android (used to work on my old phone IIRC) which is crucial for my work - because voice mail gets delivered as MMS in my country. Every time I got work phone call that I missed meant voice mail that never got delivered. I got notification that I have MMS, and that I need to allow them, but that’s it. Everything was allowed in the app and in the systsm, still no MMS.
plague_sapiens@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Use Molly instead. There are 2 versions, one FOSS one and one with some proprietary data (notification stuff).