Short answers.
From someone already on Genco. A member gives you a six-character code. It works once and expires after two days. There is no public signup.
They’re your account. Genco doesn’t use a phone number or email address as your identity. When you join, you receive twelve words and keep them yourself. Anyone with those words has access to your account.
No. Messages are encrypted on your phone before they leave it. The server delivers them, but doesn’t have the keys needed to read them.
The server can still see who sent a message, who it was sent to, when it was sent and how large it was.
Private doesn’t mean invisible.
Genco doesn’t need your phone number or email address to create your account. Your account is represented by your twelve words.
The server can see who you message, when you message them and how much data is being sent.
I don’t claim that the server sees nothing. I claim that it can’t read your conversations.
Install Genco on the new phone and choose “I have my twelve words.” Enter them and your account comes back. There are no SMS codes to wait for. Your chats, people and keys come back with it.
Then the account is gone. That’s intentional. Genco doesn’t keep a copy that can be used to recover it. Ask for a new invite and start again.
They’re a one-time check that the other end is really the person you’re talking to. The first time you chat with someone, both phones show the same three pictures. Compare them. If they match, you’ve confirmed the connection.
Android’s battery settings can put Genco to sleep. In Settings → Apps → Genco → Battery, choose Unrestricted. The exact wording varies slightly by phone.
Not yet. Genco is Android only for now. An iPhone version is planned.
Genco’s support desk is still being built. For now, email [email protected] and I’ll help you out.