> The ability to register for Signal without a phone number is a frequently requested feature.

I wonder if Signal missed the forest for the trees with a paid registration. I imagine privacy is the primary reason for registering without phone number and yet they ask one to register by giving them money which 99% of the case involves means of payment tied even tighter to one's identity than a phone number.

It might be done so that it only gives you a "ticket" to create an account, but they will not know what account was created.

I would bet that the overwhelming majority of folks trying to use Signal without a phone number are on devices that aren't phones and where the user doesn't want to use their phone. For instance:

- Folks running businesses without a business phone number

- People who want to give their kids the ability to text them, but their kids only have an iPad

- People who want to give texting capabilities to bots without having their own phone number involved

Signal is private with a phone number for the purpose it serves. Its does not aim to be an anonymous chat service. For 99% of people Signal is ideal for private communication and we should not spread FUD about it not being private because you need a phone number.

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