Signal (messaging app)

Signal
Developer(s)
Initial release29 July 2014 (2014-07-29)[1][2]
Stable release(s)
Android7.2.4[3] Edit this on Wikidata / 3 April 2024 (3 April 2024)
iOS7.4[4] Edit this on Wikidata / 27 March 2024 (27 March 2024)
Desktop7.4.0[5] Edit this on Wikidata / 28 March 2024 (28 March 2024)
Preview release(s)
Android (Beta)7.3.0[6] Edit this on Wikidata / 3 April 2024 (3 April 2024)
iOS (Beta)7.4.0.9[4] Edit this on Wikidata / 27 March 2024 (27 March 2024)
Desktop (Beta)7.5.0-beta.1[7] Edit this on Wikidata / 4 April 2024 (4 April 2024)
Repository
Operating system
TypeEncrypted voice calling, video calling and instant messaging
LicenseAGPL-3.0-only[9][10][11][12][a][b]
Websitesignal.org Edit this on Wikidata

Signal is an encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice, and video calls.[13][14] The instant messaging function includes sending text, voice notes, images, videos, and other files.[15] Communication may be one-to-one between users or may involve group messaging.

The application uses a centralized computing architecture and is cross-platform software. It is developed by the non-profit Signal Foundation and its subsidiary Signal Messenger LLC. Signal's software is free and open-source. Its mobile clients, desktop client, and server are all published under the AGPL-3.0-only license.[10][9][11][12][a][b] The official Android app generally uses the proprietary Google Play Services, although it is designed to be able to work without them. Signal is also distributed for iOS and desktop programs for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Registration for desktop use requires an iOS or Android device.[19][20]

Signal uses mobile telephone numbers as identifiers for users. It secures all communications with end-to-end encryption. The client software includes mechanisms by which users can independently verify the identity of their contacts and the integrity of the data channel.[21][22]

The non-profit Signal Foundation was launched in February 2018 with initial funding of $50 million from Brian Acton.[23] As of January 2022, the platform had approximately 40 million monthly active users. As of May 2021, it was downloaded more than 105 million times.[24][25]

Until the feature was removed in 2023, the Android version was also optionally capable of functioning as an SMS app.[21][26]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Greenberg-2014-07-29 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Marlinspike, Moxie (29 July 2014). "Free, Worldwide, Encrypted Phone Calls for iPhone". Open Whisper Systems. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Signal Private Messenger Android GitHub Repo". 3 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Signal Private Messenger iOS GitHub Repo". 27 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Signal Private Messenger Desktop GitHub Repo". 28 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Signal Private Messenger Android GitHub Repo". 3 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Signal Private Messenger Desktop GitHub Repo". 4 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Installing Signal - Signal Support". Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference signal-android-github was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference signal-ios-github was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference signal-desktop-github was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Signal-Server was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mott-2017-03-14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Perez, Josh (2 September 2020). "Release v1.35.1". github.com. Signal. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference arbitrary-file-types was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Update top-level LICENSE file to AGPL". GitHub.com. Signal. 1 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Update top-level LICENSE file to AGPL". GitHub.com. Signal. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  18. ^ O'Leary, Jim (1 November 2021). "Improving first impressions on Signal". Signal Blog. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. ^ Ciobica, Vladimir (26 May 2021). "Signal Desktop". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. ^ Youngren, Jan (19 January 2021). "Signal messaging app review 2021". VPNpro. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  21. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Frosch 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schröder-2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference Greenberg20180221 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Curry, David (11 January 2022). "Signal Revenue & Usage Statistics (2022)". Business of Apps. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Signal Private Messenger - Apps on Google Play". Google. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  26. ^ nina-signal (12 October 2022). "Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)". signal.org. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.


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