By SoftTalk Messenger, a Nigerian-owned messaging app, has introduced a new privacy feature that allows users to chat and make calls without sharing their phone numbers.
The company says this feature addresses different privacy concerns since sharing phone numbers on chat platforms can result in unwanted spam, expose users to security breaches and even compromise user identity.
SoftTalk Messenger is a Nigerian indigenous messaging app. It offers encrypted chat, free audio and video calls, and a marketplace for users to buy and sell products and services.
Simple Azenabor, CEO of SoftTalk Messenger, stresses the significance of this new feature in an interview with ITWeb Africa.
He claims enabling communication between users without disclosing their phone numbers will enhance the user experience in general.
According to him, “the app allows users to connect with your friends and family by using your @username, without the need to share your phone numbers”.
He also notes that as a security and privacy driven start-up, SoftTalk enables users to turn off and on their profiles from the SoftTalk directory if they prefer to remain anonymous in the course of a public search. He points out that this helps users to communicate safely and privately.
Azenabor also emphasises on data minimisation, limiting collection and retention to necessary information only. “We store data securely, avoiding personal or financial information, and synchronising phonebooks without permission, unlike other providers,” he says.
“SoftTalk Messages are encrypted using RSA-2048 and RC4+ encryption for secure message transfer, and our platform accommodates 500 000 participants in a single group, and members can share media and large files,” he notes.
He further states that the company is exploring various technologies in order to strengthen its backend infrastructure to build a secure and scalable system.
