Why aren't you using Wire (https://www.wire.com)? It is cross platform, end to end secure w/ open source audited crypto, focuses on app usability, and doesn't need a phone number to sign up.
Trust issues with the founders (Skype hardly had a great privacy record); inability to build own APK (because only the crypto is open source) means you can't be sure the code on GitHub is what you're really running.
I had honestly never heard of it before. It looks good, but the website is completely lacking any information about the company which again makes me feel a little bit uneasy. I might try it, though.
