Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, has released a new messaging application called Bitchat, which is specific to iPhone. Bitchat supports communication under Bluetooth and WiFi mesh networking over an offline mechanism. It is a technology that uses text and photo data without cellular services or the internet to deliver. It is aimed at those users who require connectivity in underserved regions or want to increase their privacy. Bitchat makes peer-to-peer connections between proximate devices.

Highlights:

• Bitchat facilitates offline iPhone messaging via Bluetooth/WiFi mesh.
• Messages route between nearby devices to reach recipients without the internet.
• Communication features end-to-end encryption for user privacy.
• The app is currently free and available exclusively on the Apple App Store.
• Bitchat functions during service outages or internet restrictions.

Bitchat works through the radios of the iPhones nearby to create a dynamic mesh network. The relay of messages is done on the device-to-device basis, in a discretionary way until the desired recipient is reached. This way of communication is such that communication continues in the absence of traditional network infrastructure. The solution is to deal with cellular signals or the availability of the internet.

Bitchat has security in it. End-to-end encryption is used in all messages sent using the app. The information regarding the message is only accessible by the sender and intended recipient. This design does not allow meddlers, including Bitchat itself, to read the communications. The application relies on privacy as one of the fundamental aspects.

Bitchat can be used only by the owners of iphones. The app is available free of charge at the Apple App Store. Such an application is limited to the iOS environment thus far. It is only useful when there are other users of Bitchat nearby, in the mesh network.