In my country everyone uses WhatsApp, EVERYONE and for EVERYTHING. If proton could somehow create some kind of solution for this issue, that would be awesome. If not than I really don't see the point in recreating signal.

Signal is a US company and the US is not a country that can be relied on not to require backdoors to encryption at some point. We need a solid European alternative in a country that solidly values privacy with laws to protect it.

A Proton messaging app could offer stronger ecosystem integration, but it would also face major challenges around adoption, development resources, and market fragmentation. A partnership with Signal may be the more practical path while preserving secure communication. Urban Magazine values thoughtful technology discussions that balance privacy, convenience, and product quality.
https://urbanmintmagzine.com/

This is remarkably needless. Proton endorses and encourages Signal. Everyone voting yes to this needs to do their homework because being based in the US is not a factor with how secure Signal is, and some perspective that Proton’s version of this would mean every message you make is tied to your email address.

First of all, Signal is end to end encrypted. If that sounds familiar, it means the same thing that you got Proton Mail for: Signal will comply with court orders but can’t provide what they don’t have. All of you should be aware of that because clearly 600+ people don’t see that.

Secondly, wishing for a Signal like app from Proton to “complete the set” is just telling everybody you want unification out of complete convenience. Signing up for Proton alone is already a hassle compared to whatever email provider you came from if you don’t have a domain. The line is drawn at registering for Signal with a phone number? Come on, you can download SimpleX if you really need to avoid phone numbers.

Third, a lot of you need to firmly wrap your head around this idea that you are better suited not putting everything in one basket. Begging Proton to make a Proton version of an app that’s already done well and better somewhere else is why their products are lacking severely in quality. Proton Drive improvements are welcome but they’re coming at a snail’s pace. Pass flew at lightspeed thankfully. Mail is easy enough to allow updates to come slowly and surely. VPN is slowly rowing a boat in mud. Do you really need Proton Signal? The answer is quite rhetorical when you put EVERYTHING in perspective rather than wishing to have a home screen full of Proton logos because you miss Google.

When I was using Thunderbird, I remember there was a built-in feature for XMPP chatting. I used it for a while and it worked pretty well.

Perhaps they could implement something like having your own XMPP and using your own proton address as your XMMP JID.

I honestly don't know if there's much demand for it or just a niche thing, but it could be an option. Hosting your XXMP.

It could be done, but as many others have said, why? What challenges face Signal that Proton would overcome? Why make an already fractured messenger market worse? What technical advantages does Proton have over Signal? It's likely they would use the Signal protocol anyway.

The main arguments I've seen are "we need something not US based" or "Because I want my ecosystem complete." Asking developers to waste time making something you don't actually need just because it would in some sense make you feel whole is not a valid reason. It makes much more sense to improve existing products than to introduce one in a market that doesn't need it.

As for moving to Switzerland, Signal is designed so even government subpoenas can't reveal your messages. It was never designed to stop the subpoenas in the first place, just make them ineffective. Many individuals seem to live under the delusion that Switzerland is a magical place where subpoenas can't get you and your untouchable. This is false and until someone can provide a technical advantage for Proton essentially duplicating an existing messenger, please stop asking for it.

This could totally be implemented by expanding Proton Meet.

I just use the email app for signaling. Why would I need Signal at all. This is total ********. Just send a regular email.

We need a Signal alternative as it is a US based company. A proton messenger would be ideal for my family already using proton.

If you do this, please make it so we can download full chat history.

Unless it can acquire a large user base, a new social networking app simply cannot develop. There are already too many anonymous social networking apps, but most of them are niche.

I've been seriously thinking about this topic and I think it's an interesting idea. Imagine a secure, lightweight, and spy-free messenger? Frankly, this suggestion deserves more attention from the community because it's a good argument.

I didn't use to think this is critical, but as of late I've come to the conclusion that Proton should acquire Session and improve on it, if not, develop their own app with full Proton service integration.

ohh

Really missing a messenger integrated into the ecosystem. UX Integrated with mail/calendar app similar to Gmail on web for convenience would be excellent. Now have to use a standalone Signal but there is a lot of friction - separate app, separate login, then whole friends & family circle needs separate accounts and installs for both. Also Signal lacks no-install web access on desktop.

I'd like a good alternative to signal, or equally as good: signal network integration. It would be especially nice not to have to provide a phone number to use the service and to have multiple IDs for separation of concerns.

Signal requires a phone number and I'd rather use an app that doesn't make me give that up.

Al principio me parecía buena idea pero después de leer un par de comentarios cambié de opinión. Creo que una especie de Signal o Telegram al estilo Proton se verían necesarias en contextos de urgencia o conflictos gubernamentales. Por el momento lo considero innecesario, pero me alegra ver que la comunidad está activa y propone ideas. I love Proton Community ❤️

Basically the question raised here is that why would you not just use signal, I did not go through all the answers now, but the main and for me only reason for wanting Proton to have a Signal clone, is this: It will be Swiss owned and not USA owned. The location of main backbone servers etc. Now based on the Patriot act, Signal can be forced to allow access or switch off the system, like they did with the president of the ICC with his bank (ING) and his Email (Microsoft). The fact that Signal as only remaining real adopted free secure messenger, that does not sell your meta data, is located in the USA is a major downside. Maybe Proton can discuss with Signal a partnership to move the organization to Switzerland if Proton does not see a possibility to build their own system for all resources related issues and adoption issues.. I have been with proton since the very first beginning (I still have a free account somewhere with 2 passwords, a second one for decrypting the mailbox separately and free 1 GB of space) and this is the only real thing I have missed since the beginning.. I guess if this idea would be realized, the only left over next thing is a to build a secure Proton Linux Distro with all Proton functions included out of the box.. I would definitely pay for that (in a one time buy, not a subscription that is). I can see a future with all Microsoft and META and X engineers quitting their jobs and moving to Switzerland to Proton OS as devs.. There can be only one! (yeah that's a quote from Highlander)

I'm torn on this request. Yes, it would make the pitifully fragmented space of (privacy) messengers even more fragmented. But given Proton's brand recognition, it has a chance of bringing in a wave of new users to the Proton ecosystem, and consolodating some of the fragmentation in the long-term.