How To Use Signal – A new messenger alternative promises to make the dispute for users’ preferences even more intense: this is Signal, an open source app created by the Signal Foundation, an organization in the United States.
Like its main competitors, WhatsApp and Telegram , the service uses a cell phone number as identification and a secure communication system with end-to-end encryption.
The service gained even more notoriety in the United States in early January, when WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy, which displeased many users who sought alternatives.
The look of the application is quite similar to that of Telegram , but it still has fewer features. Also contributing to the rapid growth in popularity of Signal is the fact that businessman Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and Space X, publicly declares that he uses the service.
Also Read : Telegram vs Signal – Which one is best ?
How do I create a Signal account?
Step 1. Download and install the Signal app from Google Play .
Step 2. Open the app and, on your first access, tap the “Continue” option. If you have previously installed the app and want to import a backup, then choose “Restore backup”.
Step 3. The following message will appear: “Signal needs to access your contacts to connect with your friends, exchange messages and make secure calls“. Choose “Continue“.
Step 4. Allow Signal to access your contacts.
Step 5. Allow Signal to manage and make phone calls.
Step 6. Choose your country of origin and enter the cell phone number, with the area code. Touch “Next“.
Step 7. A six-digit verification code will be sent to your phone number. If it is correct, just wait until the message arrives. Validation is done automatically.
Step 8. Enter the security PIN registered on your cell phone.
Step 9. Edit the first and last name fields, and add a photo to your profile.
Ready! Your Signal account has been successfully created. To chat with a contact, just tap the message composition sign in the bottom right corner of the screen. A list of people among your contacts who have already installed Signal will be displayed.
If you prefer, you can select the options “New group”, to select friends for a group, or “Invite friends”, to generate a URL and send it to users who do not yet have Signal installed on their mobile phone.
The trend is for Signal to gain more users over time. To give you an idea, by the end of last year the application had an average of 50 thousand downloads per day, but in January 2021 it reached the mark of 1.3 million new accounts in 24 hours. It is worth testing and knowing this alternative.
Also Read : Top 7 WhatsApp Alternatives and more in 2021
