Secure messaging Signal prepares to launch usernames to enhance user privacy

Signal, the privacy-focused messaging app, is progressing towards the introduction of a feature enabling users to connect via usernames rather than sharing their phone numbers. The update, currently in “pre-beta” stage, was announced by Jim O'Leary, VP of Engineering at Signal, on the company's forums. O'Leary cautioned that this early version may experience issues such as crashes and defective push notifications.

The ability to communicate digitally without revealing a phone number is a sought-after feature in messaging platforms. Competing services like Telegram, Wire, Threema, and even Session, a fork of Signal, have already implemented this capability. Signal's username-based connection feature is projected to be released in early 2024.