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.
So instead of tracking the phone number they can track payment method… I assume XMR and cash is off the table. … so best option now is then fake number for most. Card payment would be fine for some ;) but play services fuggetaboutit!
Yeah, unless they allow XMR I don’t see the point. They do allow registering with a VoIP number, so if you want an anonymous account you could buy a number from JMP.chat with XMR and use that.
To bad subscription based , I use https://sms-man.com/
If all you need is the verification SMS for your registration there are a lot of options. I usually use SMSPool for that sort of thing. The thing with Signal is that if you are doing this for an account you plan using long term eventually you will want to move it over to a new device, and if you no longer have access to the phone number you used to register then you are screwed. This is the reason I recommended JMP.chat.