I’d like to be able to chat from an Android phone without a SIM card.

Edit: Since several people have mentioned it, I’m including this note at the top. There are security issues with using a temporary number to register even if it is not needed to maintain the account. Anyone can gain access to the number and use it for account recovery, etc. I’m not an infosec person at all, but this seems pretty obviously bad. Some services will work fine with a landline or other permanent phone number, as long as you retain private access to the number.

Edit 2: SimpleX turned out to be a good fit for me. It was fast and easy to set up, and simple for my family to use. I also like that it is self hostable if I need to set that up in the future. There are some excellent suggestions and useful discussions below, and I appreciate the help. I’ll come back to this thread in the future if I need to switch

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOP
      5·
      4 months ago

      Thanks, I’m going to check this out. Seems pretty straightforward which is good for the family to use

        • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOP
          2·
          3 months ago

          Thanks for the heads up. This may still be the best option for me, but it is good to stay ahead of these things.

          There is something in the quoted Masto thread that suggests realtime video is inherently insecure? I have to be honest that I didn’t really follow it.

          The info from SimpleX reads as though they are using crypto donations rather than more traceable cash, which mostly makes sense to me. The NFT tech that they describe is not for trading purposes, but to anonymously verify payments. It would be used to connect an account to a payment through zero or minimal knowledge. I don’t really understand the tech, so please let me know if I even understand what they are suggesting.

          This is just for family chat, so total black box security is not a priority.

          • Kyrex@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
            1·
            3 months ago

            Thanks for the heads up

            You’re welcome

            There is something in the quoted Masto thread that suggests realtime video is inherently insecure?

            Well, to keep it simple: Voice/Video Calls on SimpleX are private. The point Sarah (from Cwtch, another private messaging platform) was making in that toot is that it is hard to be truly anonymous on a video call due to network level limitations on how the app route calls. But that is mostly about having privacy from a state-level adversary, I mean don’t even worry about this.

            The info from SimpleX reads as though they are using crypto donations rather than more traceable cash

            The criticism on the Privacy Guides forum is about the SimpleX team implementing a system based on crypto and NFTs to pay server operators, aiming to incentivize people to host more servers. But the catch here is that server operators get a 60% cut and the SimpleX team takes 40%, raising concerns about a possible enshittification, SimpleX will be more inclined to generate revenue instead of improving the app and bla bla bla.

            Also on the other thread that the highlighted comment linked, a developer I respect called ignoramous points out that because SimpleX is based in the UK, it could be subject to the IPA law and there are transparency concerns about the SimpleX team not even caring to warn about it (if you care about that stuff).

            And also SimpleX advertises as not having user identifiers but that’s a lie because by default if you don’t do anything about it the servers have your IP address (and your IP is a user identifier).

            It’s these little things that make me distrust the project. Personally I don’t like Web3/crypto stuff, so I tend to avoid services that implement it.

            This is just for family chat, so total black box security is not a priority.

            Yeah i mean, for your use case, using SimpleX is totally fine. I just wanted to share the criticisms that exist around SimpleX.

  • ShellMonkey@piefed.socdojo.comEnglish
    8·
    4 months ago

    If you feel like setting up a stun/turn server it’s possible to set up your own using something like xmpp or next cloud talk. Works for individual accounts with friends if not a plug and go app.

    • zdanger@lemmy.world
      4·
      4 months ago

      I have an ejabberd server setup for my family for this reason. Using the Conversations app off F-Droid and Gajim on desktops

  • Zachariah@lemmy.world
    51·
    4 months ago

    Threema

    It’s around $5 for the app. No phone number needed. End-to-end encryption for chat and calls (audio/video). Desktop versions are in beta.

    iOS and Android

  • solrize@lemmy.ml
    3·
    4 months ago

    GNU Jami though I had trouble getting it to work reliably, and you have to install an app. YMMV.

    Jitsi is decent, especially if you don’t mind using their server meet.jit.si (may have changed by now). It uses WebRTC (i.e. you can use it with just a browser) which I think is preferable to a mobile app.

    I think there will inherently be some lag if you’re using a mobile phone at the client side, because of all the codecs, wifi latency etc.

    This shouldn’t be that hard a technical problem especially if you’re ok with audio-only. I don’t know why the existing programs all have probs in some areas. Jitsi is nice to use but a pain to self-host from what I can tell.

    I have a self-hosted nextcloud that has a video chat feature (Nextcloud Talk) but it’s not great.

    I have been wanting to spend a chunk of time looking into the situation and finding a good answer, or at least identifying the trade-offs clearly.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    3·
    4 months ago

    It looks like Session has video calls in beta.

    Note that most services requiring a phone number for registration don’t actually require that phone number to be connected to a SIM card in the device you’re using. That may be helpful depending on your use case.

    • snowdriftissue@lemmy.world
      5·
      4 months ago

      Phreeli is overpriced and doesn’t actually grant much privacy despite their claims. Telecom providers can still have a field day with your location and sms/call data even if Phreeli isn’t collecting that themselves, which is also really just a pinky promise at this point. There are also competing services already which don’t require PII either but have more reasonable prices.

      If you want a phone number just to sign up for signal or something just use jmp.chat smspool or mysudo depending on your needs.

  • ragica@lemmy.ml
    2·
    4 months ago

    NextCloud has end-to-end encrypted voice and video chat, and of course a whole bunch else, since people are mentioning self-hosting. The corresponding Android app “nextcloud talk”.

  • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    Side note but I was literally just thinking the other day that the accelerated rise of corruption and right-wing pivot of the globe also coincides with encrypted / anonymous communications. Mobsters and state actors must be having an absolute field day this past decade.

  • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    I don’t know how private/secure it really is, but Teleguard doesn’t require a phone number.

    I’d really like to see some research into them, though, to know how good/bad it is.

    I don’t know where to even start.

    Alternative: XMPP has been around for 25+ years, can be self-hosted, there’s numerous solutions available.