Tests signal usernames that maintain your phone number's privacy

Signal, the privacy-focused messaging app, has initiated trials for a feature allowing users to engage in conversations without revealing their phone numbers, opting instead for public usernames.

Jim O'Leary, Signal's VP of Engineering, announced that the anticipated username functionality is undergoing testing in a separate staging environment, following extensive internal evaluations. This environment runs parallel to Signal's main service, requiring users to install a unique build and create a new account, possibly using the same phone number they have for the stable version.

O'Leary detailed the process, noting, "Participants need to sign up for the staging area separately, and there's no promise of consistent uptime. It's also probable that push notifications might be hit or miss during tests."

Once registered in the staging version and having launched the app, users can explore the new features by heading to their profile settings and adjusting privacy controls related to phone number visibility.

Signal's new system lets users craft usernames linked to a series of digits, providing a distinct QR code and link for easy sharing. Users are also advised on how to make their username the primary contact method by tweaking phone number discovery settings within the privacy section.

The app is inviting its community to engage with these functionalities, including setting up usernames, sharing username links, fine-tuning phone number sharing preferences, and adding contacts to groups via usernames or phone numbers.

Pre-beta builds for this feature will be updated routinely and are available for testing by Signal's user base. Desktop versions for macOS and Windows are posted on the community site, Android versions require Firebase enrollment, and Linux users must employ the Desktop Alpha apt repository for the signal-desktop-staging build.

For iOS enthusiasts, although a staging build isn't directly accessible via the App Store, they can compile their own Signal-Staging iOS app using the latest source code from Signal-iOS. However, linking to a desktop version necessitates initial registration via an Android or iOS device in the staging environment.

Signal developer Greyson Parrelli highlighted the experimental nature of these builds, cautioning users not to get too attached to their data within this pre-release setup due to potential bugs that might require reinstallation for resolution.

Meredith Whittaker, Signal's President, had previously hinted at the development of usernames to allow anonymous communication on the platform. While a phone number is still required for initial registration, users can subsequently choose to conceal it completely, as reiterated by Whittaker earlier in August.