This is one of those things that is so novel I’m surprised there hasn’t been anything like this set up, sooner. (or maybe it has been done before and I just never knew) But it is a chat-based interface that uses an IMAP mailserver back-end. That’s it. It’s a fancy email client that looks and functions like an Instant Messenger service.
While it is possible to use the service with an existing email account you have, there is the option to set up an specialized ‘chatmail’ account. ‘Chatmail’ servers that are mail servers set up specifically optimized to facilitate this type of function, in addition to ensuring it is end to end encrypted. They also offer the code available to host your own Chatmail server if you have the means to do so.
Adding contacts is a little odd, as they can only be added via QR codes or contact links, to add contacts. (You can find mine, here) they offer no means of adding other’s email addresses as a contact.
Personally, due to the age and collection of spam my public email accounts have accrued over the years, I figured I’d set up one of the provided chatmail accounts. I went with a tarpit.fun account. (when you set up an account it’ll auto generate a random string of letters for the email. You have to check each service to find out the steps to make a specific, unique named account. ) I have no one else to test with this ATM so I can’t speak much for its service and how it feels but it’s an interesting novelty, maybe it will catch on in certain circumstances.
I think the decision to use a mailserver as a chat backend in the current day is pretty neat. (And it’s nice to have another end to end encrypted chat service option that isn’t married to your phone or phone number =_=)
I’ve been tempted, but the idea of hammering my e-mail server continually and cluttering my account with lots of little messages that should be transient turned me off. The developers seem pretty active though.
i had literally been talking not two days ago about how i wished there was “something between instant messaging and email”. imagine my surprise when i opened discourse to see this link staring me down from the front page.
very pleased with it so far. that it is end-to-end encrypted makes me feel better about using it as a service, compared to… well, any other instant messaging platform. i do have to admit the QR code system is bizarre and somewhat cumbersome, though perhaps i’m merely speaking as someone who owns a flip phone with no means of scanning the code. the app is also very rudimentary-looking, unfortunately, and i’m afraid i might sink in a lot more time than i ought to trying to craft a theme for it.
my speculation is that maybe they have contact QR codes/links is to discourage people from posting the full email as a contact, which could attract spam. And also to ensure the other accounts you add are DeltaChat users and not just any ol email.
But at least they give you the option to upload a QR code image or use the link so it should work on most phones I would think.
In support of @armaina’s response, this is from DeltaChat’s FAQ:
How can I find people to chat with?
To securely setup contact with others scan an invite QR code or share an invite link. This is required when using a (default) chatmail-based chat profile because chatmail servers reject un-encrypted outgoing messages.
If you create a chat profile with a classic e-mail address you may manually create a contact if you know their e-mail address and then write a message to them even if the recipient is not using Delta Chat.
If a contact uses a non-Autocrypt e-mail app, all messages involving this contact (in a group or 1:1 chat) will not be end-to-end encrypted, and thus not show a “padlock” with messages. Note that even if your contacts use Delta Chat on their account, they might also use a non-Autocrypt e-mail app on that account which then may cause intermittently unencrypted messages. Replying unencrypted to unencrypted messages is mandated by Autocrypt to prevent unreadable messages on the side of your contacts and their non-Autocrypt e-mail app.