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How RCS on iPhone Will Make Texting Better for Everyone
(www.cnet.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
That's far from the only option. I can think of half a dozen relatively mainstream options off the top of my head (Signal, Telegram, Whatsapp, Discord, Matrix, Skype), though I think the first three still want a phone number. There are many more.
The trouble is getting people to agree on one.
Yeah signal, telegram, and whatsapp all want phone numbers I think. And I don't think I'd be able to convince my mum to use Discord or Matrix. She'd probably end up using something like Facebook Messenger/Messenger Kids
Signal recently updated to allow usernames instead of phone numbers.
I think you still need a phone number though. I think that's just for if you don't want to give out your phone number.
Ah, that may be true indeed.
Signal is now "phone number to login to the account, but you can share a username with other people"
Not 100% but better than some.