[tjohns]

Yes, you need to register with a phone number, but publicly you'll show up as your @username and that's how most people will interact with you.

And I agree, I think yours is an accurate assessment. Telegram is indeed much more community centric.

[stavros]

That's almost the same as Signal, though on Signal you don't show up as anything. People need to get a username from you to share your contact.