I was referring to the bridge, not xmpp or sip. Because phone numbers are still desired for the reasons I originally posted, a bridge only highlights why most people are still needing to have phone numbers to function in this world. It's about "availability* to more people's situations, aptitudes, services, and locations. And it's about both cultural and institutional *consensus* that the phone numbers are needed to participate with they who run the shit. To be clear, I do not want the status quo, but it's a narrow view for , well yeah there are so many things that could replace phone numbers. I mean if we are talking about this kind of power, I would ask why did people use .mps when .ogg or .flac were superior and didn't cost anything to build for? On a technical merits only level: easy, there is no good reason. But the history, spread, funding, business, power, profit, behind how .mp3 remained relevant so long is what is more discussion worthy. Same thing here. I'm answering assuming he was asking about why people, themselves, in this world, decide to us;l e a phone number (including for a bridge)