Phone-Free Private Messaging
A private messenger without phone numbers, for small groups and anonymous use cases.
- Problem
- A Show HN author launches Morse Messenger, positioning it as private messaging without a phone number, showing users avoid phone-number signup for privacy, anonymity, or work separation. Mainstream messengers anchor on phone numbers, leaving small-group and one-off communication underserved.
- Solution
- Build an end-to-end encrypted messaging app based on invite codes or passphrases, with no phone or email required, supporting text, voice snippets, and files. Rooms can have self-destruct timers and member limits, and the server stores as little metadata as possible.
- Users
- Privacy-conscious journalists, event organizers, anonymous community members, and small teams needing temporary private communication.
- MVP
- Only invite-only rooms and end-to-end encrypted text/files; no contact book or account recovery; ship web first, no native apps.
- Revenue
- Free basic features with paid unlocks for larger rooms, higher file limits, and self-destruct timers; or a one-time self-hosted enterprise license.
- Why now
- Privacy awareness and platform scrutiny are rising, and phone-number binding is a barrier for many users. End-to-end encryption libraries and WebRTC are mature enough for an indie developer to build a usable MVP in about a month.