Local messaging app adds privacy feature

SoftTalk Messenger, a Nigerian-owned messaging app, has introduced a new feature allowing users to chat and make calls without sharing their phone numbers.

The company introduced a feature to address privacy concerns since sharing phone numbers on chatting platforms can result in unwanted spam and security breaches.

SoftTalk Messenger users could now connect with friends, family, and schoolmates using their @username, eliminating the need to share phone numbers, the company disclosed in a statement.

The app also offers end-to-end encryption, secure messaging, and the ability to control profile visibility.

The Chief Executive Officer of SoftTalk Messenger, Simple Azenabor, noted that it was committed to providing a secure and private messaging experience for users.

“Anyone in an individual or group chat can see your phone number. But don’t worry, you can use SoftTalk Messenger, which doesn’t require a phone number.

“It gives you the best of both worlds, the freedom to communicate with anyone and everyone, and the security of keeping your phone number private.”

Messages are encrypted and transferred over a secure channel and use standard encryption algorithms (RSA-2048 and RC4+), making sure that only the receiver of the message can read it.

SoftTalk Messenger accommodates 500,000 participants in a single group, and members can share media and large files.

The company revealed that the Android version of the app was first introduced in 2018 in the presence of delegates from Nigerian Communication Commission officials and the then Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

Azenabor noted that SoftTalk Messenger had been bootstrapping and exploring various technologies to strengthen its backend infrastructure and build a secure and scalable system.