Instant Messaging
under construction - which means I am thinking about it. It’s like an onion, always another layer we cannot see.
- Whatsapp (Facebook)
- Telegram
- Messenger (Facebook)
- Wire
- and countless others
- Signal
- Threema
Ok so typing that list leads me to realise I am not intending to evaluate the whole world of Instant Messaging, just only my experience of it and thoughts about it, with my reasons.
I have used all the above and others.
The first thing I think that strikes me is the willingness of others to use the same as me. As a result I still have all the above installed.
The second thing is there is a significant distinction between “social” use (friends and family) and “business” use.
The third thing is that millions (billions?) of users simply don’t care who knows what about them and it is certainly not my place to engage with them.
I think the best (if naturally self-biased) comparison I have seen is by Threema here:
https://threema.ch/en/messenger-comparison and deeper
https://threema.ch/en/why-threema
and copy and pasted straight from Threema because I cannot say it better:
https://threema.ch/en/why-threema
In order to use conventional chat services, it’s necessary to disclose personally identifiable information. WhatsApp, for example, requires users to provide their phone number. Threema, on the other hand, doesn’t force users to disclose any personal information whatsoever. Instead of a phone number, the Threema ID (i.e., a random string of characters) serves as unique identifier. Linking a phone number or email address to one’s Threema ID is possible but optional. Hence, Threema can be used completely anonymously, which is a crucial feature in terms of privacy protection: Where there is no personal data in the first place, no personal data can ever be misused.
After the initial VERY simple setup process, Threema is NOT simple to understand compared to the rest. It is however easy enough once one gets the hang of it. Indeed a 92 year old I know prefers it to use above all the others including Facetime and iMessage. I have yet to fathom why and remain impressed as for sure it has nothing whatever to do with technical matters.
Pretty much says it all really. I prefer Threema and use Signal with those who refuse to use Threema. As we can see from their own comparison Signal is the closest to Threema, but in use and setup I can see in fact Threema can be easier to use on desktops and laptops and the coup de grace is what I call their “walki-talkie” mode which is more properly called “peer-to-peer” mode. What that means is no server-in-the-middle at all. They claim their voice quality also much better and I have to admit, before I read that, I was thinking exactly that, but scarecely believed it. So there we are. If you “just want it simple” that’s not Threema. Signal is under constant development and can be a tiny bit clunky compared to Whatsapp, and it needs its notifications settings and updates settings to be set up so that you get notifications properly and updates are pretty much seemless taking only a few seconds, NOT requiring to be “re-installed” every time (that’s user error).
Secure email? http://protonmail.ch
Takeway: if it is “free” then YOU are the product being sold. “You” is your private data. As regards Signal in this context see here:
“Signal makes money via donations. As a non-profit organization, it relies on these donations to continue offering its service. Launched in 2014, Signal has grown to become one of the world’s most-used messaging apps. Over 40 million people now use the messenger.”
Whatsapp users? TWO BILLION. It’s free and very easy to use.