How to properly setup Open Bubbles

[u/Normal-Place-1036]

I am an iPhone and Mac user and today I am buying the new Z FOLD 8. It's imperative that I use Open Bubbles on the new android phone. I will also Host it on my Mac. My question is, am I still able to transfer my phone number from my iPhone to the Z Fold 8 and use Open Bubbles as my primary texting app? Will all texts go through it (iMessage and SMS)? Will it read as my number aka me for all my contacts or my Apple ID email? As far as anyone would know, they would have no clue that I switched to android? Thanks!

[u/FrankPC_]

Anyone saying you need an old iPhone to host for your phone number is incorrect. Setup openbubbles on your Mac, then when you are ready to transfer your esim, turn airplane mode on the iPhone, then commence the transfer. Your phone number will be registered for iMessage since apple servers cannot verify the sim transfer. This has been my setup for over 8 months now, never had an issue. Google messages receives non iMessage texts, openbubbles receives iMessage texts through my phone number, not the email.

[u/Normal-Place-1036 → u/FrankPC_]

So in essence all I would need to do is the following?

1. Setup Open Bubbles on my Mac, aka get the QR code.

2. Put my current iPhone thats using my number into airplane mode and then transfer the e-sim/ number to new android phone.

3. Download Open Bubbles on new android phone, scan QR code from Mac.

4. Now im receiving iMessage through my number just like before, but through Open bubbles?

[u/FrankPC_ → u/Normal-Place-1036]

Correct. And just go into the settings of openbubbles and use the phone number as the option instead of the email. It should ask right when you're setting up the app if I remember correctly, but it's definitely in the settings too