I dunno. I used a free VoIP number instead. Even made a separate login on my phone so it can't access all my phone contacts. Would be great if it was open, but then they couldn't make a business out of it.

Sure they could. Selling the client would still be most effective for the majority of users, but honestly what their business plan likely consists of is selling all of your personal data. And that's something I can't believe so many people just throw away in this day and age.....

P.S. Notice how Twitter doesn't require all your personal data? Oddly enough they seem to run off VC fumes and magic! I wonder what their secret is, lol

Hah. Twitter is still working on their revenue stream. Their goal seems to be like most free web services: collect data, sort people into groups, and sell ads tailored to groups of people. Though they also have "professional services" for managing your media presence. I'm not sure it's really working, but I'm not investing so meh.

As for Telegram, I don't know. Free generally beats out anything else, even if it's only $0.99. Why people still use Skype or AIM or whatever. And regular chats aren't even encrypted, you have to go out of your way to do it, so it's not like it's hard for them to collect data to sell, or process to sell ads at some point. I guess they're running on VC magic for the moment, too. They can always change their tune and we'll just move again if it gets worse. Same thing with Discord. Awful lot of chat services popping up.

I do. I'm weak

and stupid

context plz?

can't say, but I could always try to telegram it to ya

ah thank you, that's enough clues for me to scooby doo :3c