Signal Tests Android Registration Without a Phone Number

Signal is testing a major change to its identity model on Android by allowing users to register without providing a conventional phone number. The beta system instead creates an account identity and key, with users able to add an optional username for connecting with other people. The alternative registration route currently involves a small one-time fee rather than becoming the default free signup method.

Removing mandatory phone numbers has been one of the most frequently discussed privacy improvements for messaging services because numbers can reveal more personal information than users necessarily want to share. Signal has already reduced the visibility of numbers inside the service; registration without one pushes the idea considerably further. The feature remains in testing, so implementation details could change before a broad release.

If it survives beta intact, however, it would make Signal a more practical option for people who want a persistent messaging identity without tying that identity directly to a SIM card or mobile carrier.