zlacker

>>mikece+(OP)
Signal had 40 million active users in 2021 [1]. With 14 million in infra cost, that comes to .35 per user/year. Total expenses are about 33 million, so about .825 per user/year. All in all that seems very reasonable.

[1] https://www.businessofapps.com/data/signal-statistics/

>>V__+r8
This is kind of the number I was looking for -- "Cover your own costs: $1/year. Cover yourself and five other people: $5/year." I feel like something pointing out that the costs are around $1/year on signing up, maybe with a reminder once a year, would get most people self-funding pretty quickly.

>>gwd+xU
Reminds me of ... WhatsApp :D

(Originally WhatsApp charged $1/year.)

>>tobinf+Fm1
And I was SOOO happy when I heard WhatsApp's business model: Finally, I'M THE CUSTOMER! I gladly signed up for the "free year" and started getting other people to sign up for it... only to have it bought by FB, and never charged my $1 yearly fee. :-(

Then I tried to get people to use Telegram, but hey never implemented encryption by default, instead implementing things like chatrooms with millions of people... then I signed up for Signal, but waited to see what would happen -- and they started doing some weird crypto thing. Thankfully that all seems to have not been an issue, so I might actually start recommending Signal.

>>gwd+Vn3
Yup. Same, re: WhatsApp and the $1 annual fee. It made so much sense "lightweight service, charge $1/year, have 1 billion customers."

These days I use Signal mainly. But also WhatsApp. And Messenger. And SMS for folks who don't have any of the others.

And my iPhone friends complain about how terrible it is to text Android-users, because iMessage.

Oh I should add that it seems that college students these days have standardized on messaging through ... instagram.