Group Text/SMS/MMS possible with VOIP?

Privacy Questions
1

First post! Newbie here looking for advice.
Short version: How are people setting up GOS for ability to receive and send group texts when you have people that have not adopted other clients? Are you using SIM number or something else?

Longer version: I’ve been off and on playing with GOS on Pixel 6a and I really want to take the leap and use it as my daily driver. However, my exposure to privacy (before this group) has come from the Michael Bazzell camp where he stresses not to use your SIM number under any circumstances and use VOIP solutions. I have now learned that MySudo cannot do group texts and I’ve now set up and tried VoIP.ms and that also did not work, even with the VoIP.ms app to send and receive group messages. (I admit I could be doing something wrong with VoIP.ms because I’m new at this!)

The reality of my current situation is that not everyone will adopt Signal or something similar, but so many people use group text threads. I feel like I am faced with the choice of sticking with iOS or using GOS with SIM number (only to certain trusted contacts). The idea of not using my SIM number was appealing, but now that I’ve gone down this road with GOS (I like it!) I am red pilled and don’t want to stop but I having a hard time getting over this piece since Bazzell stressed it so much.

Are there other services that might accomplish this?

Related question: GOS has advantages over iOS from what this newbie can tell. I have seen people question Bazzell’s advice on this topic. Would love to hear more thoughts about risks of using true cell number vs. not.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of my questions.

2

Welcome to the forum! It might be helpful if you figure out your threat model. When making privacy choices, it’s always good to ask yourself what your trying to protect against. What benefit are you going to gain by not giving your close friends and family your phone number? Yes your SMS/MMS messages won’t be encrypted but that would have been the case as long as you use SMS/MMS.

IMO, if you are not trying to be untraceable, giving your phone number to close contacts is fine (though it’s better to use Signal or Matrix or another encrypted messaging service). Make sure you tell them not to provide your phone number to businesses without your consent though!

3

Full sms support is only there on jmp.chat

The omboarding is a bit tricky, hence I tried to clarify things in my guide here.

4

Thank you, I will look into that.

1 Like
5

Thank you for your reply.