Signal has started rolling out Signal Login, an optional registration method that allows users to create a Signal account without providing a phone number. The feature will be rolled out first on Android and will come to iOS later.
As we previously reported, Signal Login is not a free alternative registration method. Signal requires users who choose to register without a phone number to make a one-time payment. The price at launch is $2.99 / € 3.49, although this may vary by region and currency.
I’ve looked at unsealed records provided by the Signal Foundation, and they definitely have the account creation and last accessed date… But besides that, is there really any information authorities can glean from this? Or is it simply the issue that this leaves users at square one, if they’re trying to avoid connecting an identity (be it phone, or Google, which generally requires a phone) to it?
For me, I see this as a potential boon for simply having a second account without having to go through the rigmarole of maintaining an extra SIM card.