"Can Extend Up to 300 Meters Through Users"
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has unveiled a new messaging application called "Bitchat" that allows users to send and receive messages without an internet connection.
On July 7 (local time), U.S. IT media outlet TechCrunch reported, citing Dorsey's X (formerly Twitter), that he had developed a Bluetooth-based messenger.
According to the report, Bitchat is a messaging app that operates via a Bluetooth mesh network. It enables users to exchange messages without Wi-Fi or cellular signals. Typically, apps of this kind only work within a range of about 100 meters due to the technical limitations of Bluetooth.
Dorsey stated that his app can transmit messages up to 300 meters through users. This could be useful for finding friends in situations where mobile service is unreliable, such as at crowded music festivals. The app does not require account creation or phone number verification.
Currently, Bitchat is being distributed through the iOS beta testing platform TestFlight. The source code and protocol have also been made public on GitHub. The protocol has been designed to be platform-independent. Developers can use it to create an Android version as well. The license will be provided as public domain.
The Bluetooth messaging app Bridgefy has been used in anti-government protests in Hong Kong and Thailand because it works without internet access. Both Bridgefy and Bitchat are known to support end-to-end encryption. Bridgefy has also received partial funding from Biz Stone, another Twitter co-founder.
Dorsey has long shown interest in the decentralization of technology, so his involvement in the development of Bitchat appears to be a natural step. He recruited Bitchat beta testers through Apple's TestFlight. The test has already reached its maximum capacity of 10,000 users and is now closed.
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