Whatsapp vs Signal - Why aren't more on signal?

Suckit

I don't get why more don't join signal.
I get that there is viber, wechat, kakaotalk etc. as alternatives to whatsapp, and wire as an alternative to Signal. (Matrix also)

But Signal is made by the same guy (team) that developed whatsapp and have added some features (they are also missing some).
With signal there is no way to 'emphasise' text (*Bold* _Italic_ ~Strikethrough~) etc.
But they have better privacy.

Other than that they are almost identical. (Signal doesn't allow privately shared images/videos into the maistream of your device). Signal allows disappearing messages timed to your choice also.
There is also a lot more advantages that I am sure are explained online already..
This may be one
- http://blog.awok.com/signal-vs-whatsapp/

Is it a case of the people that grew up with it still using signal, and the older folk that are used to it not wanting to change?

lertsnim

I've never heard of Signal until now.

Wheety

lertsnim wrote: »

I've never heard of Signal until now.

This.

Blacktie.

Never heard of Signal and WhatsApp has a absolutely gigantic lead on them. Good luck getting all your friends to convert to another messaging platform when WhatsApp does a good enough job already.

vectorvictor

There's already too many ways to communicate. WhatsApp at this stage is pretty universal - very rare I'd look to message someone and find they're not on it.

Never heard of Signal but I do know the last thing I need is another messaging app.

What's really needed is something that brings everything together into one clean single page interface to end having to remember who's on WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger , SMS only etc..

flexcon

Never heard of Signal.

I do use telegram with some people though. I am slightly concerned that since WhatsApp is owned by Facebook there is a risk to leaking data but it's sorta unfounded on proof and only going on whats happened so far with Facebook in the news.

I could never understand WhatsApp over Viber. WhatsApp always depends on an active internet connection on your phone, whereas you can still send Viber messages from your laptop or whatever even if your phone is dead. On top of that, there's features like Viber Out and editing messages.

At this point, it will be very difficult for WhatsApp to be knocked off its perch.

Johnnyhpipe

Like everyone else who’s posted above - never heard of it and don’t seem to need it.

I wonder when/if WhatsApp will die out though like bebo/myspace? Everything has its time but it seems to be incredibly popular!

mrcheez

vectorvictor wrote: »

What's really needed is something that brings everything together into one clean single page interface to end having to remember who's on WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger , SMS only etc..

I sort of have that via my smart watch where I get all messages in the one app and respond to all using the one app regardless of what app was used to send/receive on the phone.

Of course it requires all the apps are installed on the phone, but it's a glimpse into the future as I don't generally notice any longer how a message came to me as I just use my watch mainly to respond via voice.

uck51js9zml2yt

flexcon wrote: »

Never heard of Signal.

I do use telegram with some people though. I am slightly concerned that since WhatsApp is owned by Facebook there is a risk to leaking data but it's sorta unfounded on proof and only going on whats happened so far with Facebook in the news.

If you're thinking it, they are doing it. The problem is getting the evidence.

Henry Ford III

I'm considering going back to smoke signals, or perhaps semaphore and carrier pigeons.

LotharIngum

A friend of mine decided to stop using WhatsApp.

He sent everyone a last WhatsApp with a link to signal and explained why he was leaving WhatsApp and that he would now be on signal.

Everyone just decided, one bloody messaging service is enough and didn't bother with signal.

After about two weeks he tried to get us all to leave signal again.

Then after another week he was feeling left out as no one went to signal and hes back on WhatsApp.

The high horse brigade

I wish I could convince more people use telegram, it's really good, the best of them IMO

Sirius Boner

Basil3 wrote: »

I could never understand WhatsApp over Viber. WhatsApp always depends on an active internet connection on your phone, whereas you can still send Viber messages from your laptop or whatever even if your phone is dead. On top of that, there's features like Viber Out and editing messages.

At this point, it will be very difficult for WhatsApp to be knocked off its perch.

Viber is today's bebo unfortunately, it's more about stickers and aimed at the tween market these days

LotharIngum

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I wish I could convince more people use telegram, it's really good, the best of them IMO

But its bad enough that you need to have both viber and WhatsApp installed without more messaging apps.
If the majority are happy with WhatsApp then you are fighting a strong current trying to everyone else to add a new client because you like it more than WhatsApp.

lsjmhar

Signal is a great system. Matrix however allows bridging between systems so it will eventually (probably) be an all-in-one messenger.

I use telegram as it has a desktop client for texting. So long as you are using a company's server you're messages are never private. How do you know that these companies don't hold The keys to decrypt your communication.

The best option is to set up a private xmpp server and get all your mates on Conversation. However, they would need to be able to trust you with their messages. You would need to write up a policy on GDPR and they would need to sign it and ...............!!!!!

The high horse brigade

LotharIngum wrote: »

But its bad enough that you need to have both viber and WhatsApp installed without more messaging apps.
If the majority are happy with WhatsApp then you are fighting a strong current trying to everyone else to add a new client because you like it more than WhatsApp.

I'd drop WhatsApp in the morning as I don't trust their security at all. It wouldn't cost me a thought. Nor would I care if people couldn't contact me. I've not got Viber. I have a few on Telegram, I'd be happy to keep that one

McMurphy

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I wish I could convince more people use telegram, it's really good, the best of them IMO

I have been on telegram since last March.

A few colleagues and myself are on it for specific communication and for support, I find it good myself.

LotharIngum

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I'd drop WhatsApp in the morning as I don't trust their security at all. It wouldn't cost me a thought. Nor would I care if people couldn't contact me. I've not got Viber. I have a few on Telegram, I'd be happy to keep that one

That's what my friend said.
But it turned out he was the only one who ended up having a problem in the end.
When there were were a few meetups and he asked why we didn't contact him and people just said they sent messages to the WhatsApp group and if he wasn't on it that was his problem he resisted for a little while, but eventually he didn't want to be left out.

I was quite happy to contact him passing on messages at first but I just got sick of being a relay and I stopped.

OldMrBrennan83

People are on WhatsApp so that's the one to use. No point in being on one that you can't message people on. I did delete Viber about a year ago when it got too spammy with stickers and all. Just told anyone who messaged me on it to get WhatsApp or SMS me.

Hangouts was the best of the lot for me as it was the only one to properly sync across everything without messing about with QR codes and it had a tablet app but now that it's not pre installed on Android phones nobody has it any more. They're killing it this year anyway.

beauf

Never heard of Signal.

I wish people would realise IM can be delayed through poor data connection. So don't use it for time crital communication.

OldMrBrennan83

beauf wrote: »

Never heard of Signal.

I wish people would realise IM can be delayed through poor data connection. So don't use it for time crital communication.

Always have read receipts turned off anyway.

LotharIngum

Patww79 wrote: »

Always have read receipts turned off anyway.

First thing I do when installing anything.
God I had the way people expect you to get back to them immediately when they senmd you a message

OldMrBrennan83

LotharIngum wrote: »

First thing I do when installing anything.
God I had the way people expect you to get back to them immediately when they senmd you a message

And 'Last Seen' off on WhatsApp too.

beauf

LotharIngum wrote: »

First thing I do when installing anything.
God I had the way people expect you to get back to them immediately when they senmd you a message

If I'm not getting the message till I walk back into coverage I don't think that makes much difference. even when I have coverage I don't reply immediately unless it's needed.

The high horse brigade

beauf wrote: »

If I'm not getting the message till I walk back into coverage I don't think that makes much difference. even when I have coverage I don't reply immediately unless it's needed.

Yes but others can see that you've received and read the message but not bothered replying, how rude! :-)

Suckit

I knew signal was not as popular, but I hadn't realised it was because it was so unknown/unheard of. The OP was mainly me thinking aloud, but I thought Signal was better known than it is.

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I wish I could convince more people use telegram, it's really good, the best of them IMO

I use Telegram, but mainly only for groups like Music, bargains, forum chat and support groups, some blogs too but to a much lesser extent.
It's just not something I ever consider for direct messaging with people. Not sure why.
Barely open discord anymore.

colm_mcm

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

Like everyone else who’s posted above - never heard of it and don’t seem to need it.

I wonder when/if WhatsApp will die out though like bebo/myspace? Everything has its time but it seems to be incredibly popular!

I’d say it’s more likely that Facebook messager will be integrated into WhatsApp

demanufactured

Far too many messaging apps about these days.
I stretch as far as Facebook messenger.

beauf

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Yes but others can see that you've received and read the message but not bothered replying, how rude! :-)

1st world problems in fairness...

dubrov

Suckit wrote:

I knew signal was not as popular, but I hadn't realised it was because it was so unknown/unheard of. The OP was mainly me thinking aloud, but I thought Signal was better known than it is.

It's not because it's unknown. It's because it was late to the party. Signal is only unknown because no one is using it.

Whatsapp has pretty much hoovered up the whole market already. Peuple are very slow to change.

RangeR

I used to use Signal exclusively for SMS / web chat [as well as FB Messenger / Whatsapp]. Basically, I had to install whatever app my buds were using as they weren't techy enough to switch [they just want what works and are afraid of change] until...

Whatsapp banned me from their network during the verification process. They claimed I broke their T's & C's. In reality, I had Signal installed with a passcode. WhatsApp couldn't read the verification SMS so I had to swap between apps, entering passwords etc. Eventually, and without warning, WA kicked me off their network. I tried to appeal it but they weren't having it. The script monkeys just read out their script.

I still used Signal and still use WA but had to move away from Signal as I moved into Community [Cardiac] First Responder and Signal wasn't compatible with the emergency test system we set up. It was hard to switch back to stock SMS app but also an easy choice.

I still use Signal for non SMS chat but mainly only with tech buds.

RangeR

dubrov wrote: »

It's not because it's unknown. It's because it was late to the party. Signal is only unknown because no one is using it.

Whatsapp has pretty much hoovered up the whole market already. Peuple are very slow to change.

With the greatest of respect, WhatsApp was an unknown when it came to the party, with loads of other chat offerings. However, they did get known, and pretty quickly, I believe. Maybe it was their advertising, I dunno. It also wasn't free. You had to hand over a couple of quid every year to stay connected. It's free now but people did pay.

Signal is free. So why doesn't it gain traction? It's almost [or is] feature par with WA.

OldMrBrennan83

RangeR wrote: »

With the greatest of respect, WhatsApp was an unknown when it came to the party, with loads of other chat offerings. However, they did get known, and pretty quickly, I believe. Maybe it was their advertising, I dunno. It also wasn't free. You had to hand over a couple of quid every year to stay connected. It's free now but people did pay.

Signal is free. So why doesn't it gain traction? It's almost [or is] feature par with WA.

It's timing. WhatsApp was at a good time and there's no reason to switch.

manonboard

i think its peer pressure in the most natural of ways.

When i exchange a number with someone, its nearly always someone saying "yeah.. whatsapp me and we'll arrange something".

It means two things to me
1: I dont like calls so please just text
2: I'm using whatsapp

Unless a girl says something like "signal me" or a friend says "ill set up a signal group and we'll arrange it then with everyone"..
then signal just hasnt a hope.

I guess its just a monopoly.
Like WeeChat in china.. it would be just impossible to compete.

Its not about the feature or tech for signal. it HAS to have the same features else its inferior, but its still inferior in use because whatsapp was first to market with it all, and didnt BeBo it like Viber did.

BaronVon

I have Signal for years, but nobody I know really uses it. Whatsapp does all the basics, so not much need for anything else. I'd never heard of Telegram until this post, and I see there's a create a poll option, so I'll certainly be downloading that!

_Whimsical_

Signal in the only messenger app that Edward Snowden will use due to his confidence in their commitment to real privacy for users. Whatsapp is owned by Facebook who've demonstrated no real interest in protecting users. That's the reason to switch to it. It's surprising with that sort of endorsement that it hasn't exploded, at least among nerdier more tech-savvy types.

In truth though literally everyone and their mother has WhatsApp etc and there's a generation of people, like older parents, who will not switch now. Viber and WhatsApp launched at the right time and they'd have to do something terrible now to lose traction in the market. Signal doesn't provide some of the features some love, and others hate, in those messaging apps too. There's no "last active at x time" and notifying you that your message was read is only a recent addition to the app. It's not AS social media-esque in that sense.

The high horse brigade

Russia banned Telegram because they wouldn't hand them over the crypto keys to allow them access to encrypted messages. The CEO of Telegram shipped them a physical lock key saying this was the only key they'd ever get

Guy:Incognito

I genuinely couldn't give a **** who wants to sit in a dark room and read my WhatsApp messages. I don't have any state secrets I send around.

If you want to tell someone something you desperately don't want anyone else to ever know, tell them in person in a room free of electronic devices.

Everyone uses WhatsApp. Why endure months trying to get everyone to change over to a new service when WhatsApp does everything i/we need from a messaging service.

Suckit

It's not about somebody reading your messages.
It's about data harvesting, marketing and basic privacy (and a lot more). It is also about they way that they decide to use the aforementioned data, they can use it ways to manipulate users etc.

Guy:Incognito

Suckit wrote: »

It's not about somebody reading your messages.
It's about data harvesting, marketing and basic privacy (and a lot more). It is also about they way that they decide to use the aforementioned data, they can use it ways to manipulate users etc.

Again, I don't care.

If you want a guarantee of privacy, talk to the person face to face .If you believe something else is more secure and will stay like that and be good forever just because they tell you they are, best of luck to you.

Guy:Incognito

I just installed it there to see how many people in my contacts (dont think I've every deleted anyone from my Google contacts so hundreds of people ) have signal.

2.

I'll stick to WhatsApp.

OldMrBrennan83

Suckit wrote: »

It's not about somebody reading your messages.
It's about data harvesting, marketing and basic privacy (and a lot more). It is also about they way that they decide to use the aforementioned data, they can use it ways to manipulate users etc.

If it's only data harvesting and marketing then that's even better then. Nothing to hide so I'll always go for convenience.

Suckit

Patww79 wrote: »

If it's only data harvesting and marketing then that's even better then. Nothing to hide so I'll always go for convenience.

Yep, that's all it is.

I managed to include all the issues that everybody has and that signal is able to help users become less concerned about, in one sentence.
I.am.genius.

GBX

Installed signal and it chose my profile pic from WhatsApp. Maybe I'm being paranoid but why did it choose the pic from the only place I use it. I get allowing files to be accessed has something to do with it but its very specific going to the WhatsApp folder no ?

OldMrBrennan83

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I just installed it there to see how many people in my contacts (dont think I've every deleted anyone from my Google contacts so hundreds of people ) have signal.

2.

I'll stick to WhatsApp.

Did the exact same. Uninstalled straight away.

Franz Von Peppercorn

RangeR wrote: »

With the greatest of respect, WhatsApp was an unknown when it came to the party, with loads of other chat offerings. However, they did get known, and pretty quickly, I believe. Maybe it was their advertising, I dunno. It also wasn't free. You had to hand over a couple of quid every year to stay connected. It's free now but people did pay.

Signal is free. So why doesn't it gain traction? It's almost [or is] feature par with WA.

WhatsApp wasn’t late to the mobile party. It started as an iOS app that merely told you what other iOS users of the app were doing. Then it added chat, moved to android, was bought.

As it grew on mobile platforms it undercut messaging on desktops. This was all probably luck. The first app was trivial.

There’s never any real technical reason - it’s just networking affects. And unless the new app has much better features nobody will change.

Sirius Boner

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I just installed it there to see how many people in my contacts (dont think I've every deleted anyone from my Google contacts so hundreds of people ) have signal.

2.

I'll stick to WhatsApp.

I installed it just to have a look-see... 0 contacts using it... I think I'd have a better chance of converting the world's muslims to Christianity than getting people to use this over WhatsApp

shmeee

Basil3 wrote: »

I could never understand WhatsApp over Viber. WhatsApp always depends on an active internet connection on your phone, whereas you can still send Viber messages from your laptop or whatever even if your phone is dead. On top of that, there's features like Viber Out and editing messages.

At this point, it will be very difficult for WhatsApp to be knocked off its perch.

Ever try WhatsApp web?

https://web.whatsapp.com/

I use it a good bit on the PC, just sync up phone with it. Very handy for sending documents etc from the PC.

Blacktie.

shmeee wrote: »

Ever try WhatsApp web?

https://web.whatsapp.com/

I use it a good bit on the PC, just sync up phone with it. Very handy for sending documents etc from the PC.

You still need active internet on your phone to use this.

OldMrBrennan83

Basil3 wrote: »

I could never understand WhatsApp over Viber. WhatsApp always depends on an active internet connection on your phone, whereas you can still send Viber messages from your laptop or whatever even if your phone is dead. On top of that, there's features like Viber Out and editing messages.

At this point, it will be very difficult for WhatsApp to be knocked off its perch.

Hangouts was better at this as it didn't look like it was designed for a 3 year old like Viber is.