Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, is venturing into new territory with the development of a messaging application called Bitchat. This innovative app harnesses Bluetooth technology to facilitate communication, as Dorsey shared in a recent post on X, stating, “My weekend project to learn about Bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store-and-forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things. Bitchat: Bluetooth mesh chat… IRC vibes.”
Decentralized Communication Redefined
Bitchat, which Dorsey describes as a “weekend experiment,” enables direct peer-to-peer messaging through the use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh technology. This approach allows users to exchange messages over distances greater than 300 meters, all without the need for mobile data or Wi-Fi.
Currently in its beta phase, Bitchat is available via Apple’s TestFlight platform, with initial tester spots quickly filling up after its announcement.
The app emphasizes secure and decentralized communication, steering clear of traditional network dependencies. By utilizing Bluetooth, Bitchat sends short-lived, encrypted messages that hop from one nearby device to another. As users move, their devices collaborate to relay messages through overlapping Bluetooth zones, creating a fluid and dynamic mesh network. Notably, there is no central server; instead, select devices can act as “bridges” to extend the network’s reach.
One of the standout features of Bitchat is its operation without requiring a phone number, email address, or user account. This fully decentralized architecture, devoid of servers or centralized oversight, renders the app particularly resilient against censorship and traditional network outages.
The launch of Bitchat aligns seamlessly with Dorsey’s ongoing support for decentralized platforms such as Damus and BlueSky, underscoring his broader mission to decentralize various domains, including social networking and digital payments. The app draws parallels to Bluetooth-powered tools used during the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, which were designed to maintain functionality even amid internet blackouts.
