- SpaceShip’s Thunderbolt replaces your phone number with a domain name – if you are technically – expert enough
- Thunderbolt promises end-to-end encryption and no central storage
- Domain names are safe but may not be practical for everyday messaging and calls
Thunderbolt, a new app developed by Domain Registrar Spaceship, aims to replace phone numbers and E email addresses with domain names for voice, video and text communication.
Promoted as a privacy-focused alternative to existing platforms use Thunderbolt DNS ownership as a form of identity verification. Spaceship says this approach avoids the vulnerabilities of centralized databases and traditional login credentials.
While it shares conceptual similarities to systems such as What3Words that translate complex data into simpler, more memorable devices, Thunderbolt uses this idea for communication rather than geography.
The field and privacy angle
Thunderbolt presents a domain as a “digital home” that can serve as a universal identifier. This concept allows users to make calls or send messages using a domain like “Alice.Chat” instead of a phone number.
The company claims that domain names are more secure, inherent private and easier to remember. “A domain is a public address, but it reveals nothing personal,” says the company.
Thunderbolt also promises end-to-end encryption and no central message storage and claims to deliver a high degree of privacy. Security is tied to DNS ownership where DNSSEC is used to further approve access.
However, this model assumes that users are comfortable navigating domain registration and DNS server settings, tasks that many still find opaque and unintuitive.
The claim that the platform is “almost impossible to hack” also guarantees skepticism. While decentralized identity and DNSSEC offer strong protection, no system is completely immune to compromise.
Thunderbolt supports traditional domains as well as handshakes and ens domains that offer compatibility with third-party registrators.
Still, the app’s onboarding experience is optimized for users who detect domains through spaceship, raising concerns about supplier-in and the true commitment to decentralization.
For a tool that emphasizes user control and independence, this preference seems to be in conflict with its specified goals, as users may be vigilant to become funnel against a single provider under the form of convenience.
There is also the broader question of how many people actually want to control their identity through domain infrastructure. While this can appeal to those who are already running personal sites or online portfolios, the average consumer may think it is difficult compared to services that work out of the box.
Thunderbolt enters a crowded market dominated by platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Skype. People seeking the best alternative to Skype may appreciate that Thunderbolt has no ads, using strong encryption and gives users more control over their identity.
However, it remains unclear how well the platform is doing in a scale or how easy it is to find and connect to others on the app.
