this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2025
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I'd like to be able to chat from an Android phone without a SIM card.

Edit: Since several people have mentioned it, I'm including this note at the top. There are security issues with using a temporary number to register even if it is not needed to maintain the account. Anyone can gain access to the number and use it for account recovery, etc. I'm not an infosec person at all, but this seems pretty obviously bad. Some services will work fine with a landline or other permanent phone number, as long as you retain private access to the number.

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[–] quantumharsh@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 hours ago
[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I don't know how private/secure it really is, but Teleguard doesn't require a phone number.

I'd really like to see some research into them, though, to know how good/bad it is.

I don't know where to even start.

Alternative: XMPP has been around for 25+ years, can be self-hosted, there's numerous solutions available.

[–] stepan@lemmy.cafe 3 points 8 hours ago
[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

Side note but I was literally just thinking the other day that the accelerated rise of corruption and right-wing pivot of the globe also coincides with encrypted / anonymous communications. Mobsters and state actors must be having an absolute field day this past decade.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

If the Epstein files have proven anything, it's that these idiots use plain text email.

[–] CubitOom 9 points 18 hours ago (1 children)
[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Thanks, I'm going to check this out. Seems pretty straightforward which is good for the family to use

[–] nymnympseudonym@piefed.social 11 points 19 hours ago

From all of us who donate to FSF.org To the world

A Free-as-in-speech-and-beer solution

Happy Newton's birthday

https://jitsi.org/

[–] Toes@ani.social 15 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

You can use element for that, just don't use a matrix.org account.

[–] 01189998819991197253 5 points 21 hours ago (1 children)
[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 5 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

matrix.org is one instance, the biggest one. Guessing they require a phone number.

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 7 points 20 hours ago

It does not appear to require a phone number. It even looks like an email address is optional.

[–] 01189998819991197253 3 points 20 hours ago

Ah ok. I haven't used matrix in a while, but it didn't require a phone then (several years ago), so I thought they were saying not to use matrix in general.

[–] ShellMonkey@piefed.socdojo.com 6 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

If you feel like setting up a stun/turn server it's possible to set up your own using something like xmpp or next cloud talk. Works for individual accounts with friends if not a plug and go app.

[–] zdanger@lemmy.world 2 points 20 hours ago

I have an ejabberd server setup for my family for this reason. Using the Conversations app off F-Droid and Gajim on desktops

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago

It looks like Session has video calls in beta.

Note that most services requiring a phone number for registration don't actually require that phone number to be connected to a SIM card in the device you're using. That may be helpful depending on your use case.

[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

self hosted matrix instance here

[–] SpacePanda@mander.xyz 3 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Heres a cool new phone company that require no personal info Phreeli

[–] snowdriftissue@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

Phreeli is overpriced and doesn't actually grant much privacy despite their claims. Telecom providers can still have a field day with your location and sms/call data even if Phreeli isn't collecting that themselves, which is also really just a pinky promise at this point. There are also competing services already which don't require PII either but have more reasonable prices.

If you want a phone number just to sign up for signal or something just use jmp.chat smspool or mysudo depending on your needs.

[–] SpacePanda@mander.xyz 1 points 1 hour ago

This is good to know, thank you!

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Threema

It’s around $5 for the app. No phone number needed. End-to-end encryption for chat and calls (audio/video). Desktop versions are in beta.

iOS and Android

[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

This looks promising. I Like that it has group video as well. Thanks.

[–] speq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 17 hours ago
[–] msokiovt@lemmy.today 2 points 21 hours ago

Jutsi doesn't require it, nor does Kmeet I think.

[–] Lemmchen@feddit.org 0 points 21 hours ago

Not ideal, but I think Discord is offering E2EE for voice and video chat now.