Just signed up under btcgeek.
Thanks for signing up! I just sent you 5000 bits on Backslash.
10 Bits to confirm your phone number? You got to be kidding. Either make it something meaningful (e.g. 1000 bits) or just don't do it at all. I don't see what the 10 Bits 'reward' is supposed to accomplish.
We give new users a tiny amount of Bitcoin is so they can immediately try sending payments on Backslash. We don't want users to have to wait for block confirmations, for instance, before they can try Backslash.
One of the side benefits of doing this is that, as you pointed out, people get a small 'reward' for signing up. 10 Bits might not be much for some people, but many still find it appealing, especially if it's their first Bitcoin.
It's a neat idea, but is there a good reason to use Backslash over say ChangeTip?
The primary difference between Backslash and ChangeTip is the way you send Bitcoin. Backslash uses an auto-completing search to help you find your recipient, and payments are kept private, while ChangeTip payments are generally made through public posts (ex. reddit comments, tweets). Backslash also lets you send Bitcoin to email addresses and friends on Facebook.
This difference stems from different goals of the products: ChangeTip is built for online tipping, while Backslash is targeted at more general peer to peer payments (ex. paying a friend back for dinner).
How do you tie identities across platforms?
All of your email addresses, Facebook accounts, and Twitter accounts can be linked to your Backslash account. There's no limit. All the Bitcoin sent to any of your identities goes straight to your single Backslash balance. Does that answer your question?
How will you notify someone who is not on the service to claim his/her bits, e.g. if I want to send it to a Twitter handle?
If you send a payment to someone's email, Backslash automatically sends them an email to let them know.
When you send Bitcoin to a Facebook friend, Backslash prompts you to share the payment with your friend. They'll get their Bitcoin as soon as they sign up and link their Facebook account.
Sending to Twitter accounts works the same way as sending to a Facebook friend.