It’s based on Signal protocol and it’s also open source. However, unlike Signal it doesn’t harvest phone numbers.

https://github.com/wireapp

  • ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org
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    3 months ago

    That is not the reason: Signai is very good but it’s not the best. The reason why it’s more popular is because it’s good, ubiquitous and easy to install.

    In other words, it’s a well-known app you can confidently tell your computer idiot friends and family to install on their phone and start communicating with them 5 minutes later. What’s what makes it popular.

    • SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      When it was sms compatible it was a suuuuper easy sell for my family

      “It’s way more secure when you text me but you can still text everyone else you know too. And we can still use it through wifi if cell service isn’t working for me.”

    • istanbullu@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      Signal is nowhere close to being popular.

      Telegram has almost 1 billion users, which is why governments are unhappy with it. Signal is a niche toy for a very small number of people.

    • Joël de Bruijn@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      I like the way you assign different attributes to friends and family… 😁 Computer idiots, friends and family or … Computer idiots friends, and family …