(edited for clarification)
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.
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.
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.
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.
That's my biggest issue with Signal as well. I very recently (as in, over the past two days) completely dropped Google from my life[1]. I switched from Gmail to FastMail for email, calendar, and contacts, and FastMail also offers 10GB of file storage at their middle tier, which is about five times as much space as I was using in Google Drive. I switched from Chrome/Chromium to Firefox, and I'm currently trying to decide which photo backup service to use to replace Google Photos. I'll probably run CollaboraOnline via a local Nextcloud server for a good Google Docs replacement. I'm using StartPage for search, as I find its results to be more relevant than DDG.
All of that said to say this: It's absolutely refreshing to break out of the Google tar pit, and I'm very interested in a secure messaging app that doesn't depend on them at all. Being free from 24/7/365 tracking, no matter if it's "just for advertising purposes", is a breath of fresh air, as is knowing that all my eggs are spread out among several baskets now.
[1] I do still have an Android phone (Nexus 6) but I switched from the official Google ROM to the latest stable Cyanogenmod, and opted to not install the Google apps bundle. My battery life has gone from about 30 hours between charges to nearly 70 hours (as predicted by the battery meter; I haven't had to charge it since I installed CM on Monday night and I'm at 81% as of Wednesday morning). I've been using F-Droid for some great replacements for many of my everyday apps, and the Amazon App Store for a few necessities like Paypal and Fing. As on the desktop, I'm using Firefox on the phone mostly for the syncing capability, though I will say the built-in browser on CM is fantastic. Of course, I'm actively seeking a non-Android, non-Apple alternative for a mobile phone, and right now the DragonBox Pyra is a front-runner, with the Neo900 a close second.
Be aware that if your Mozilla account password is not a fully-secure, unmemorable, random string then it is possible to break into Sync: unlike previously, the only thing securing your Sync data is your password.
Also be aware that at any time Mozilla can push a piece of targeted JavaScript to you alone, which would reveal your password to them.
The first issue is solvable by using an appropriately-secure password, e.g. apQzICxawJKkU0t7SNqnPd; the second issue is unsolvable unless you fully trust Mozilla the organisation, all its employees and every government which is able to compel its actions.
This is what i want (and what i'm actively working towards)! The "banned from Google" talk has really harmed them in my eyes.. at least for people like me. I hadn't really questioned Google in the past, but now i'm looking to spread out my eggs as much as possible. Very important to me.
That battery life sure is impressive
The battery life surprised the hell out of me, especially since I spent a couple of hours getting the launcher set up the way I like it. It's telling how much battery and data are used when your phone is constantly in contact with the mothership versus a device that only connects to a service when you strictly allow it.
[1] https://riot.im
Right now I am testing with Wire, and waiting for proper pasting from clipboard. Although I am concerned with privacy, and I applaud the efforts from OWS, usability is more important to me. It will always be some sort of a tradeoff I guess. Although things seem to be getting better I am saddened by the lack of federation.