Empowering Connectivity: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched a new messaging app that works without the internet. The app, called Bitchat, lets people send the messages directly to each other without using a central server or phone network. Right now, Bitchat is available only for iPhone users through the TestFlight.
Bitchat works using through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. This means phones were connect directly to nearby devices and share encrypted messages without needing Wi-Fi or a phone signal. This is useful when the internet is down or in places where an internet access is limited.
Unlike regular messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, which need servers and accounts with email or phone numbers, Bitchat works also differently. It is fully decentralized, meaning there is no central server. Messages are also stored only on users’ phones and are deleted after a short time. This helps protect privacy and stops censorship also.
How Bitchat works:
- Bluetooth Mesh Networking: Phones create small Bluetooth groups with devices nearby (about 30 meters). When users move around, their phones can connect these groups, letting messages travel farther than normal Bluetooth range.
- No internet needed: Bitchat doesn’t need Wi-Fi, mobile data, or any internet to work.
- Encrypted messages: Messages are locked with strong encryption and only travel within the Bluetooth network. They get deleted automatically after some time.
- No sign-up: Users don’t have to create accounts or share personal info like email or phone number. This keeps communication anonymous.
Availability:
Empowering Connectivity: Bitchat is in beta testing and only available to iPhone users through Apple’s TestFlight app. It is quickly reached the maximum of 10,000 testers after the launch. Jack Dorsey also shared the app’s whitepaper and beta invite publicly.
The beta phase of Bitchat is mainly about improving battery life and making message relays more stable. The team also plans to add support for more devices in the future. When the app is fully released, they want to add Wi-Fi support to allow faster connections and let users share things like pictures and also in videos.
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