Twitter co-founder and now Block CEO Jack Dorsey has created a new app that will rival Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp called BitChat.
What’s new? It’s built entirely on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. This means that it is decentralized and there is no need to use the internet, phone numbers, emails, or even central servers.
According to Dorsey, the beta version of Bitchat is currently on TestFlight, while the full white paper is on GitHub.
Messages on Bitchat are stored only in the device and will be removed without ever touching a centralized infrastructure. This results in secure, private, and end-to-end encrypted messages. The system allows users to decentralize their messages from the internet.
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Bitchat aims to address the need for private communication that is independent from a centralized system. By using Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking, it will allow direct peer-to-peer messaging within proximity. You can also use it even if the internet is blocked, and thus, users can avoid censorship or surveillance.
Aside from basic messaging capabilities, the app also features group chats that can be protected by passwords. The project is in the public domain and serves as a practical tool to implement decentralized communication systems.
Interested to try it out? Check out the Testflight beta page and wait for signups to open up once again.