My niece has an old iphone with no SIM/phone number. Only wifi internet access.
Looking for an app for both of us to be able to chat
She cant chat with me over signal because no phonee number. She chats with the rest of the family over imessage, but i have an android phone
Is there an app available for both android and iphone to let me chat with her?
Thanks
Edit: willing to self-host for extra privacy. My nieces and nephews are all young children so i definitely want to encourage/educate them to get off corporate controlled communications channels
You can use a voip/sms service to register with the traditional messaging apps: signal, telegram, etc
I.e. google voice, or https://kycnot.me/search?q=sms&type=
Though I think :
Matrix, simplex, and briar are good options that don’t need sms at all
You can also try Jami.
Use caution as there hasn’t been a security audit
Telegram will allow her to use a virtual number
Telegram isn’t private. Their privacy practices align more closely to Facebook than Signal.
Sorry, I didn’t know
WTH dude… You can send letters. Unfortunately it’s IRL only and isn’t at all what you asked for
Briar fits the requirements.
No need for sms. Works over the internet, wifi only, or Bluetooth. As long as everyone has android it’s a great option.
That being said simplex is probably the right answer here, but no reason to antagonize the person who suggested a valid option.
How can it be a vild option when it is only available on android and the reason why OP is having this issue, is that the niece is in an iPhone?
That’s a very cogent message, thank you for writing it. I now understand your concern. I had missed the iphone requirement
Matrix / element
This
That gets really complicated with room keys and stuff though. So it’s not particularly user friendly.
To expand with my personal experience, I self host a synapse server partly for the reason that i want my children (aged 8-14 now) to have a communication platform they can access to get ahold of me with out requireing a sim card. I do not federate, and i do not allow account sign ups. That keeps a pretty isolated instance while still allowing everyone on that homeserver to be able to talk to each other.
I help them get Element setup on each device. I dont think this is overly complicated, but i am sure i am a horrible judge of complexity… They have to enter the url of the server, then their password, then they need to scan a qr code/verify from an existing device. Or, they need to enter a second passcode to verify their identity. I help them keep those secrets in bitwarden, so imo, that complexity is an opportunity to explain some opsec and encryption!
Try SimpleX chat.
Edit: or session
Signal is no longer requiring phone numbers as of V7, so you could just wait for that to get released.
Still need a phone number to register. Then after that, you can give out your username to others without revealing your phone number
My friends and I all use Simplex and have been very happy. There’s an annoying feature where messages in group chats are sometimes delivered out of order, but it’s easy enough to live with.
jisti, nextcloud talk, element matrix …go big: IRC
Would be so cool if my kids and nieces/nephews used IRC!!
Threema.
It costs $5 dollars, so you’re less likely to be the product. Highly private. Includes some open source code. Audited. Android and iOS. Doesn’t require phone number.
Here are the settings I recommend during first setup: Tap next instead of making a Threema Safe password Tap next instead of entering your phone number Turn off “Sync contacts”
I’m aware of the community this is posted in, but my kid talks to her grandparents via the chat features in Google photos. Works over WiFi with specific contacts and no phone number required. It lets her show them pictures she’s drawn.
Google are involved of course, but there’s no algorithm pushing promoted posts or any of that BSWow, I am so so much against your suggestion, but I have to upvote you, for your bravery.
To add something constructive: The app Element as a Matrix client works good for me.
If you want to use imessage on android:
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-imessage-android/
(includes self-hosting options)
If you want to use whatsapp:
If someone else has an old (and/or prepay) sim which can receive texts, you can authenticate whatsapp that way. IRC you can also authenticate with a landline. Install whatsapp using the landline number, wait for SMS authentication to fail, then it should ask to call you. Say yes, and you’ll get a call with the authentication code. Et voila.
My nieces and nephews are all young children so i definitely want to encourage/educate them to get off corporate controlled communications channels
Good luck with that, is all I can say. Kids are very susceptible to peer pressure, especially as they enter their teen years. It’s only when they’re in their late teens that they’ll open up again and start becoming more critical.
https://simplex.chat/ is probably the best option today
The app is great and the server is very easy to self host.
I don’t want to assume the worst but why are you trying to privately communicate with a minor? You really should include a second adult preferably there parent.
You are just asking for trouble
Hehehehe, how we came here, if somebody wants to message their niece that doesn’t have a sim card then that somebody is doing something bad 😆
(Sarcasm) 100% somebody isn’t using SMS or fb messanger that somebody is a terrorist, extremist, child abuser, and drug user
C’mon, somebody is asking for software advice, just mentioning that it would be cool to educate the kids how to use private services
And even if somebody might be doing something shady, you can’t really accuse or suspect somebody, this is really dark of you to suspect everyone around you and starting a witch hunt 😂😂😂
I’d say the same thing about SMS or any other communication including in person. If you always keep two adults present you are much less likely to have problems
Idk, sounds really dark, not trusing your family is really dystopian
Its just a matter of policy. It doesn’t need to be that dystopian as all your doing is closing potential opportunity.
why are you trying to privately communicate with a minor?
Uhm… Because my niece asked me yesterday if she could message me on her phone.
When i say “private” i mean not hosted/harvested by facebook or google or whatever.
My brother has full acess to the device and can read our messages. Also, he is well aware that she is messaging her aunts and uncles
I don’t want to assume the worst
Proceeds to assume the absolute worst
Child abuse is a serious issue in the US. I always try to encourage good practices. I didn’t mean to accuse you of doing something unethical
I would still encourage getting the parents to join the same chat just for liability reason. If the child’s parent is in the group chat the risks go way down.
You can create a new group chat in Simplex Chat and then you can turn off disappearing messages and add the child and the parent.
That is very bad advice for people knowing and trusting each other.
Abuse almost always comes from a person who is trusted by the family. Often they are a close friend.
Trust but verify
Signal with fake number. https://sms-man.com/?ref=qPLi0ekHzn_c is a good option , yea I added the referral link, remove last part if you wish. Or use a spare number , or wait until usernames are available , or matrix nexttalk and so on as already mentioned
