India's telecom authority DoT mandates permanent SIM binding for messenger services. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal must comply within 90 days.

The Indian telecommunications authority, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has instructed eight messenger services to implement a permanent binding to inserted SIM cards. Affected are WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, ShareChat, as well as the Indian services Arattai, JioChat, and Josh. According to the directive, the companies must ensure within 90 days that their services can only be used with a physically inserted SIM card.

  • HeyJoe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    18 hours ago

    I think a bunch still do. I don’t have it because I just purchased the phone with no cell plan. I just use wifi and if I go out I use my work phone Hotspot to provide wifi to my personal. I use Google voice so I have a number and some of those chat apps that my friends use to keep in touch. Im in my 40’s and have never had a cell phone bill still. Outside leaving the house, I honestly cant believe people are paying $60-$100+ dollars a month when you can get everything it does these days off wifi. For the minor inconvenience ive ran into sometimes I still think it’s worth it for the price.

    • Cort@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      15 hours ago

      I just pay 15/month on mint for the lowest plan. Just so I can get directions and basic Internet while I’m out.

      • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        8 hours ago

        It looks like that plan allows 35gb of data use in a month before it throttles, I don’t think I’ve ever used that much mobile data.

        • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          2·
          7 hours ago

          The $15 plan used to only be 2GB, which was honestly still enough for people that only use mobile data sparingly.

          • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            6 hours ago

            Yes, that’s adequate for someone who knows how their phone works and doesn’t stream video while out and about.