Calyx is a privacy group, they are legitimate. I would suggest using the RiseupVPN.

Do you not know how communication through servdrs that run proprietary software works?

Telegram is free to censor whoever they want.

If you don’t like it, host your own messaging service. If you use specifically Telegram expecting total freedom and privacy, you are gullible or ignorant.

Start a SimpleX group chat.

If you pick a JMP number, you can port your JMP to a cell service, and a cell number can be ported to JMP.

I believe, but I may be wrong, that cell/mobile companies get a different batch of numbers from VoIP companies, so if you port a cell number to JMP, it will likely still be believed to be a cell number, but I can’t say 100% concerete for sure.

It’s exclusively my phone number using Cheogram app from F-Droid. I paid for 2 numbers, one number is for bank and credit cards, I use that number to call financial places or verify login. My other number is my personal number and for Molly/Signal, etc.

Since JMP only requires XMPP, a federated service, it’s essentially an anonymous phone service, and if you travel internationally, you connect to wi-fi in a different country and can make local calls to anyone back home.

All it is is a VoIP number, and some services detect a VoIP number and require a cell number, but you can port your cell number to JMP, you don’t have to have a new number from JMP.

The only way to have total privacy is no internet and no phone.

The ones who rant the loudest about priavy are always people who don’t have the technical skills to configure a network to fully know how it all works. It actually is possible to have a setup that has so much privacy it is either unusable, or it show a level of grandiose narcissism. What people can do is a lot of little things, and accept what can never be change.

As a starting point, if a person wants to have extremely strict priacy, use GrapheneOS and in F-Droid settings turn off all of the anti-features so no apps are listed with any anti-features. Do not use cell service, and yes that means no data for going out, use a web-based VoIP. On computer/laptop, install OpenBSD, and build a router to run a OpenBSD firewall. All of those steps will instantly have a massive impact on protecting privacy and will have a lot more real world skills to utilize.