Encrypted talk app Signal tests “next generation” voice and movie calling

Signal, the encrypted talk application praised by Edward Snowden, is looking to stir beyond messaging and into movie. A fresh beta version of the app, now in testing, has enabled “next generation voice and movie calling” features, according to the app’s changelog. Beta users are able to attempt the fresh features with others who also have the setting enabled.

The switches were very first spotted by the blog Android Police, which tracks a number of beta applications across the Google Play Store.

However, it shows up that Signal’s fresh voice and movie calling test isn’t limited to Android. The app’s release notes also stated that the upcoming Signal iPhone beta release will include the same functionality. (It’s available now, we’re told.)

Signal calls; pic credit: Android Police

The feature arrives at a time when Open Whisper System, the not-for-profit software group behind the app and its Signal Protocol cryptography it uses, faced some criticism for spending developer resources working on things like GIF search and stickers, rather than more serious features. That’s a bit unfair, tho’, because these sort of “fun” features are what draw in mainstream users.

Of course, support for movie calling would be considered a major advance for the Signal app, not a fluffy addition.

According to a report from testers, the feature can be enabled in the app’s Settings screen. Here you’ll see a toggle for “Video calling beta.” Users are then able to place encrypted calls to anyone else who adjusted their beta settings in the same way, the changelog on Google Play explains. However the message also references “next generation” voice calling as well, no further details on that are provided.

During the call, petite voice, movie and mute icons emerge at the top of the screen.

However aimed at the privacy-minded, Signal competes more broadly with apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Google Duo, all of which support movie calling. These feature is now considered table stakes for those injecting the messaging app space with their own alternative clients.

Signal may be catching up with the rest of the market, in terms of feature set, but the app fights with adoption because it lacks the network effects of other, more social apps. This, of course, is by design. Because of its security and privacy concentrate, Signal doesn’t pull in your contacts from other social networks, upload your address book, or suggest joy devices like Snapchat’s Snapcodes to make adding fresh friends lighter.

That said, making private movie calls possible is something that could attract more users over time, as the feature rolls out more broadly.

Reached for comment, Open Whisper Systems founder Moxie Marlinspike declined to discuss the additions in detail, telling only that they’ll have more to say once the features are publicly available.

(Post updated to clarify how Signal referred to the voice calling switches, with the addition of movie.)

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