I've been using Beeper a month or two. They had a long waiting list, and initially it was subscription only, but they are working on smashing through the waiting list and have changed to a freemium model where you get it for free and (eventually) they will have extra features for subscribers.

Basically, it's one chat app that connects to lots of different chat services.

If you're technical, the app is a fork of Element, and the service uses matrix bridges to connect to different chat services, but it's all presented in a (somewhat) polished way. The wait list is because they are still struggling with scaling and quirks but if you're on Lemmy you're probably already well familiar with putting up with this.

It covers heaps of chat networks. Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Signal, Telegram, and more. It also will let you SMS (unlike Signal 😬).

You can also connect to Matrix rooms but you don't seem to be able to connect to an existing Matrix account (it uses a Beeper matrix account to connect).

It doesn't do video/audio calls so they recommend you leave the original app installed and disable message notifications (but leave on call notifications) if you use this.

same here. Heck, even Nextcloud Talk is more sophisticated than frickin' WhatsApp these days...

I literally installed Telegram/Signal on my families devices, synced their contacts with the app, and said “if you want timely responses, message me here”

💀

Yeah, that's the real "internet explorer of messaging services". Absolutely sucks to use it (doesn't even.deliver messages to me half the time), but 90% insist on it for chat groupa and such.

Basically all of Scandinavia

I'll take facebook messenger over whatsapp any day. At least it works on PC and has third party clients

I do have like 2 people I only talk to once or twice a year that I don't have any other known contact for. But I only use it very rarely because of that. If I ever stop talking to them, I'll finally delete the whole account.

The thing it's missing the most is better multi device support and an updated desktop client.

For me, I think Matrix is more complete (specially since it backs-up your chats and media encrypted). The only thing it's lacking (at least Element specific) is encrypted chat search support on mobile.

Still waiting for the ability to log in one two phones, and ideally also uncompressed photo/file sending

But yea Signal is great

SimpleX or Matrix are way better

I don't think it's really a chat app. Isn't it just a text replacement? Or does it just use that number as your ID to use it? I have it, but only ever used it with one guy.

Same. We even have a nice alternative. https://postimg.cc/rzvDYFXW

Oh shit that is him! I never even noticed before. Major ick.

How come?

Why?

Hahahaha u mad?

This is SMS in the US. No one uses WhatsApp, telegram or matrix. Every iphone user uses imessage and so we are stuck with SMS.

As a Signal user and an Esperantist I agree. They both require a somewhat curious mind for you to bump into them in the first place. Unless you have that friend/relative who always recommends weird stuff for you (to ignore).

I'm not sure I have all of them, but I regularly use (privately)

• encrypted email
• unencrypted email
• text
• Meta Facebook Messanger
• Meta Instagram messages
• Meta WhatsApp
• Signal
• Telegram
• Microsoft Teams (yes, even privately)

I'm tired boss.

I have never used Whatsapp nor does anyone I know.

I disagree. IE was incredibly proprietary, and SMS is at least an open standard.

IE is...idk Facebook messenger or Imessage or something.

So how do I get my friends to use Signal instead of fucking Facebook messenger?

What is Beeper/Matrix? Although I'm from the golden age of Trillian/MirandaIM 😆

iMessage I'll give you, but how is SMS locked in? It's a completely open standard.

Who's Steve Crowder?

same in India , everyone uses whatsapp even for official communication

Same in Australia. I have Facebook disabled, but I've got messenger to keep in the loop

I'm from the NLs and removed WA last year. What I liked about switching to Signal: people who care about me also installed Signal, so I didn't lose that. What I did lose? All the groups that I got into through the years, all of which were completely non-essential. If I need messaging with someone outside Signal I just use sms. The best part of leaving WA is that you'll find a lot of people willing to install Signal for your sake, and that's how it becomes easier for others to make the move.

Just removed whatsapp a few years ago. If people need you, they will install Telegram!

Tbh, Signal is really lacking features at this point. That's making it incredibly hard to convince others on using it.

telegram is awesome but please don't use it if you're looking for total privacy, as (by default) chats are not e2e-encrypted (this is done to improve sync/seamless multi-device chat history).
also they introduced a discord nitro-like subscription like a year ago and started putting all new features behind it....

Collective Action Problem is not a joke jim, Billions of people suffer every year

That's the reality in most of the world nowadays. Latin America is exactly the same (including Brazil) and while traveling through Europe every single Airbnb communication with the hosts was made through WhatsApp... 8 years ago, I imagine it's even more massive now.

My last trip to the US a co-worker was really surprised I kept sending voice notes and I realized I haven't called my wife in at least my last 3 trips... But we communicate a lot. Async is way better than sync.

Interoperability is a weird one though. Imagine WhatsApp can connect to Signal, and people use this feature. What would then be the point of using Signal, if WhatsApp gets the data after all?

(Signal has already announced not wanting to support this, I just used it as an example)

Oh man, I hadn't heard of the DMA before. How exciting!

I think it's already been passed, it should be coming into force next year!

Telegram laughs in the corner Whatsapp is copying telegram features that are implemented years before

I'm from india

I stole this meme from a comment🫣

[deleted]

here you go:

it's 5.6 kB webp

Crowder... ugh. What a terrible human being.

Yeah the real problem is giving Facebook any control at all over your messaging experience.

"Nobody uses Whatsapp here in the states"

Man I wish I had your friends. The only non-iMessage app I can get everyone to use is WhatsApp. And I don't have an iPhone.

I'm in the states, I know loads of people using whatsapp. I'm in several group chats.

Signal was decent when Musk was promoting it. Then they started throwing in new features without keeping the app functional or thinking about budgeting. So now it's the worst performing chat app, basic functionality like calls are broken, and they want to monetize the app through crypto to cover up their lack of planning.

Matrix is pretty great, but the clients are still pretty bad, also it's confusing as hell to anyone who doesn't understand the idea of federation. I've tried getting people on element, but every single person needed help to create an account and get to chatting, and they've all deleted the app after a while. Also, did matrix fix that encryption bug that was leaking data if someone connected through a different server?

Telegram does have E2EE, just not in regular chats. Its secret chats are E2EE, as are its voice and video calls.

I also think it has the best UI of any of the messengers, personally. It's customizable and very polished overall, at least on Android. Very smooth/optimized while having loads of features and lots of little animations to make things flow nicely without getting in the way.

I do like Signal and Matrix clients as well, though I just wish Matrix had more of a user base.

I've only seen it being used in Japan. Are there other places where its widely used?

I love Cony and Brown but I'm never using that app.

Line is awesome, didn't know people hated it.

You must not be from Europe or Brazil then

pls send help

I wish I could say the same but if you want to date you have to here. I despise and absolutely hate how you have to you use a phone number to register. And then every contact you have can add you to a group so everyone there now can have your number.

I've had a stalker before and I hate that stuff like that makes it trivially easy for her to get my number again. I literally can't understand how women are okay with absolutely shitty systems like this. I really can't repeat enough how much I strongly hate WhatsApp and how everyone else thinks it's so good for exactly the reason that I hate it. It's too easy to send messages despite me never giving you my number to begin with. SMS is the same but you can't add me to a group without my permission and share my number with a group of people I don't know.

Me too

How though

In the EU, Microsoft also got forced to tell people about alternative browsers. Maybe the DMA will be WhatsApp's equivalent.

Weird, I don't know anybody that uses WhatsApp.

Right click on .config file, left click on show more options, left click on edit with Notepad++.

Fuck you Microsoft!

WhatsApp functionality is closer and closer to functionality of XMPP 10 years ago.

Maybe after another 10 years they finally adopt nickname@whatsapp.com function.

Have they fixed the problem where you have to use your phone number as your ID?

Cos that's what's stopping me signing up. I refuse to use my phone number as my ID for a service that isn't actually carried over SMS or phone calls.

Telegram is better in pretty much every way, and has been for almost a decade

Isn't he that trumpy guy? I have no idea

Who the fuck cares. Nobody is going to start listening to him based on a dumb meme, just like nobody is going to start dating bees based on a dumb meme.

Not simply cringe, but so many faults, there are too many to name. Pick one.

what did he do?

Am in Europe and have never used Whatsapp. In fact, the only guy I know who does started using it because the company he was with at the time had a lot of business in Shanghai where they DO use it a lot.

Messaging app that needs to have a lot of users in order to be usable is shit.

No ability to send a message to user of other app should be the biggest disadvantage.

And all the Europeans have it

Even Zuckerberg uses signal.

Bruh, seriously?

Yea people here aren’t a big fan of Telegram sometimes but it’s still much more privacy oriented than most main-stream messengers, and it’s just a very well-made app

It’s fast, supports uncompressed file sending, can log in on multiple phones at once, has cute stickers, customizable appearance, etc

I assume you're American? When you need to talk to people across borders you need something like WhatsApp. SMS doesn't cut it.

I'd rather use Signal but whatever.. I'm being practical. Everyone I know is on WhatsApp.

I hope you don't mean about SMS.

featureset and costs - most messaging apps don't support markdown to the same extent, sms and mms may cost extra depending on your carrier and contract, etc.

not defending whatsapp but rather the concept in general - use signal/discord myself depending on the situation

I'm talking about telegram signal and matrix clients

Fratures like sending location, quoting messages, formatting text etc.

And also encryption (ideally E2E) and maybe privacy (depending on the messenger).

The messaging thats built in is unencrypted SMS. For more advanced features like group chats, sending media, voice notes, encryption, cross device support etc, an encrypted messaging app like Signal, Session , Matrix or even Telegram is better

What is the other person has a phone with different app preinstalled? What if you change your phone?