[saycheese]

Per the offical docs, you are required to create an account on a phone to use the desktop version:

http://support.whispersystems.org/hc/en-us/articles/21507785...

__________________

What do I need?

1. Register and set up Signal Android or Signal iOS

2. Download and install Google Chrome or use Chromium

+++++++ EDIT: Having to buy and throw away a phone to use a service that's intent is to provide privacy is what it is; worth noting you revised your comment after I posted mine.

[lorenzhs]

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough - you need a phone for initial setup. After that, you can throw away the phone (or put it in airplane mode for a less permanent solution) and the Desktop client will keep working. In contrast, WhatsApp Web sends messages via your phone, so your phone needs to be on and connected to use it. Not so with Signal.

That said, registration independent of a phone number comes up a lot here. Signal is primarily a mobile messenger, so the assumption that its users have a smart phone running Android or iOS is a valid one imho. It would be nice if people without a smart phone could use it, too, but implementing this in a way that maintains Signal's ease of use for all participants isn't exactly trivial (contact discovery is a big one). I'd appreciate it, but I can also understand why it's not #1 on OWS' list of priorities.

[whyoh]

>implementing this in a way that maintains Signal's ease of use for all participants isn't exactly trivial (contact discovery is a big one).

I disagree, as long as it's an OPTIONAL and non-default method. Many people (billions?) have been registering to various messaging services (from email to Skype and all kinds of IMs) and finding each other just fine, without using a phone/phone number.

Phone based authentication has a couple of advantages too, but when a "privacy oriented" messaging app has this as the only option it's fair to point it out.

[shouldbew0rking]

Hello saycheese,

I have been toying with this idea, I haven't actually done it myself but I know people that have.

1) get a VOIP provider to give you a free iNum number

2) download signal to your smartphone or ipod of choice

3) during the registration phase, delete the number that it suggests, replace it with the iNum number from step 1.

4) make sure to have the registration process do the "voice call" method where it calls you and reads you off the registration number.

5) register.

Assuming that you already own a cellphone and you use a free voip app like csipsimple or linphone. iNums are free from most voip providers. Then this process costs nothing.