Jul 8, 2025, 11:06 AM
Jul 8, 2025, 11:06 AM

Jack Dorsey launches Bitchat, a revolutionary offline messaging app

Highlights
  • Jack Dorsey has launched a new app called Bitchat that functions without the need for WiFi or cellular services.
  • The app uses Bluetooth mesh networking to facilitate peer-to-peer messaging and has a range of over 300 meters.
  • Bitchat aims to promote decentralized and private communication among users, marking a significant development in messaging technology.
Story

In recent days, Jack Dorsey, noted for co-founding Twitter, has introduced Bitchat, a new messaging app that operates independently of WiFi or cellular networks. The application's unique feature is its ability to utilize Bluetooth signals to facilitate communication among users. This is particularly beneficial during social gatherings or emergencies where traditional phone services may be unavailable or unreliable, such as at music festivals or protests. By adopting a decentralized communication model, Bitchat ensures a privacy-focused user experience without the need for personal information like an email or phone number to register. The app employs Bluetooth mesh networking technology to extend its effective communication range. While Bluetooth typically has a direct connection limit of around 100 meters, Bitchat can relay messages across distances greater than 300 meters by connecting users in proximity. The system cleverly allows messages to relay through other users, creating a robust communication network without centralized servers to track or collect user data. Bitchat offers features like disappearing messages by default and the option to create group chats known as “rooms.” This innovation aims to ensure that communication remains secure and transient, reflecting Dorsey's ongoing commitment to developing technology that resists censorship and prioritizes user privacy. As of now, a beta version of the app is available for early testing through Apple's TestFlight application. Since its launch earlier this week, interest in Bitchat has surged, leading to swift uptake by the public. Currently, reports indicate that the beta version is already at capacity, with around 10,000 testers engaged in utilizing the new app. Users are afforded a chance to experience and provide feedback on the functionality of the app prior to a wider rollout, which Dorsey plans to implement in the coming months. The shift towards peer-to-peer messaging underscores a larger trend in digital communication, moving away from traditional centralized platforms to more resilient and privacy-conscious alternatives.

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