Encrypted messaging app Signal is rolling out support for encrypted group video calls with up to five participants in its latest update.
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In a blog post announcing the update, Signal developer Randall-Signal explained:
Today, we're launching group calls in Signal with the latest versions of our apps. Group calls are free, private, and end-to-end encrypted — like everything else on Signal.
Now when you open a group chat in Signal, you'll see a video call button at the top. When you start a call, the group will receive a notification letting them know a call has started.
When you start or join a group call, Signal will display the participants in a grid view. You can also swipe up to switch to a view that automatically focuses the screen on who is speaking, and it will update in real time as the active speaker changes.
Group calls are only supported in new style Signal groups, so users won't see the call button in their legacy groups, but the developers say legacy Signal groups will start automatically updating to New Groups in the coming weeks.
Group calls are currently limited to 5 participants, but developers are working to let users have more participants in a group call soon.
Signal Private Messenger is a free download [Direct Link] for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store.
Top Rated Comments
Agree. I can’t even convince my wife to use it but then again I can’t convince her for most things.The only encrypted message sender besides iMessage which I somewhat trust. Pity I can't convince people to use it.
I basically told the 4 people I know that have Android phones that I wasn't using WhatsApp, and they'd need to get Signal if they wanted to keep messaging me. Thankfully it didn't take much convincing at all; just a reminder that WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. And they also all seem to like Signal's nicer interface.The only encrypted message sender besides iMessage which I somewhat trust. Pity I can't convince people to use it.
But in order for the rest of us to support people whose lives might even depend on keeping their communication secret (journalists and activists in the many authoritarian countries ), we should all use encrypted and secure communication.Secret is a type of technology meant to be used to keep things secret. Only people truly needing to keep secrecy in their lives have a need to use Secret.app. Journo’s, state actors, activists, C-suites and sensitive information ot informants are those I’ve seen or heard use the app
I got this idea from Phil Zimmermann, the author of PGP, who worked on a project with me long time ago - if we all use postcards, and only people that need privacy use letters in envelopes, we help the "bad guys" in zooming in on the people that need privacy.
It's hard to convince people to trade familiarity for security. "Facebook already has all my info anyway".The only encrypted message sender besides iMessage which I somewhat trust. Pity I can't convince people to use it.
I won’t use anything besides Signal or iMessage. If someone is set on using WhatsApp and the like, he or she can keep looking for other socially focused people who don’t could care less about privacy.Probably messenger fatigue. There are so many options people aren’t inclined to install, in their minds , yet another messager to further fragment their contacts. Line, WhatsApp, Fb msger, Skype, Viber, Telegram, Band, etc etc. “Hey did you get my message?” “No which app?”
I use signal and think it’s great. But I understand the apprehension. Too bad Apple won’t make iMessage x platform and I could finally just delete all of them.