Jack Dorsey introduces Bitchat, a messaging app operating without internet, servers, or accounts

Jack Dorsey unveils Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app enabling communication without internet, featuring privacy-centric features.

: Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, an innovative messaging application that operates entirely on Bluetooth mesh networks. The app requires no internet connectivity, central servers, or user accounts and prioritizes privacy and decentralization. Bitchat allows for peer-to-peer communication, even in environments with connectivity restrictions, offering a censorship-resistant alternative. It supports group chats with password protection and a store and forward feature for offline messages.

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has introduced an inventive new messaging application named Bitchat. The app, developed over the course of a weekend, capitalizes on Bluetooth mesh networking to enable peer-to-peer messaging without the need for internet, servers, or user accounts. This emphasis on decentralization and privacy is a hallmark of Dorsey's efforts to provide alternatives to conventional messaging platforms.

Bitchat's architecture leverages Bluetooth connections to form communication clusters among nearby devices. Messages hop from one device to another, with 'bridge' devices extending communication beyond the typical Bluetooth range to as much as 300 meters. Messages are transient and stored solely on users' devices, disappearing by default to mitigate surveillance risks and breaches, thereby ensuring user privacy and data protection.

The application is presently available in beta through Apple's TestFlight, reaching its 10,000-user capacity swiftly as interest spiked. Functioning as a personal experimental venture, Dorsey remarked upon his desire to learn more about encryption, mesh networks, and decentralized message delivery. Future developments are expected to incorporate WiFi Direct support, anticipated to broaden the app's range and enhance its speed considerably.

Beyond enabling simple peer-to-peer communication, Bitchat features group chat or 'rooms,' which can be password-protected and utilize hashtags for identification. The tool includes a store and forward mechanism, which permits sending messages to users who are offline temporarily, ensuring that communication can persist even when recipients lack immediate connectivity. This concept echoes the decentralized efforts shown by apps like Bridgefy during times of restrictive communication environments, such as the Hong Kong protests of 2019.

Jack Dorsey's exploration of decentralized technologies has been consistent, with Bitchat following initiatives like Damus and Bluesky. These projects underscore his vision to decentralize digital spaces and empower individuals to retain control over their data, challenging traditional communication paradigms reliant on centralized data storage.

Sources: TechSpot, TechCrunch, CNBC

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