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.
Which is antithetical to having a “private messenger”
No, it’s only antithetical to having a “anonymous messenger”.
Still don’t like it that Signal would require payment through Google and I’m hoping for more payment options (inb4 Apple…) but let’s not call a hare a 'hore.
I think anonymous messenger generally means talking to other people anonymously. If I want to talk to my friend from school that is private messaging, but that shouldn’t require me to identify myself to some foreign company.