Mobile
applications do not work when internet access or cellular phone
networks are not available. Right? Well, yes, but there is an exception
to the rule. Enter FireChat, which makes it possible for users to
privately chat on the smartphone without a data plan or even a network.
"Forget SMS and IM (instant messaging). Here comes OM (Off-the-grid messaging)," said Micha Benoliel, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based Open Garden, which has created the FireChat app.
"This innovation paves the way for the next evolution of the internet -- networks created by the people, for the people." India is Open Garden's second largest market globally, with one million users.
The app, which is currently free, makes it possible to chat on the smartphone without a data plan or network through peer-to-peer mesh networking technology and 'store and forward' capabilities. It transmits messages from phone to phone (which have the app installed) until the messages reach the intended recipient.
FireChat transmits messages by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios installed in a smartphone.
So far, the company's communication channels were public, much like a Twitter feed, where everyone could see the flow of conversation. So the app was used primarily for disaster-struck areas. In March, it was used when Kashmir experienced relentless rainfall that invoked memories of last year's flood.
It powered Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella movement, and was a key communication channel during internet blackouts in Iran and Iraq in 2014.
But now, having solved technical issues for private messaging such as off-the-grid identity, routing, encryption and interoperability between operating systems, the company is hoping its app will become much more ubiquitous for everyday communication.
According to the company, if all networks were down in a city, it would take less than 5% of the city's population on FireChat to cover the entire city with message delivery time of 10-20 minutes. The more the number of users the stronger the networks, which is why these are sometimes called self-healing networks.
"Unlike traditional networks or Google and Facebook's endeavours to expand the reach of the internet via satellites, drones and balloons, our new networking model does not require capital and scales up infinitely," the four-year-old company said in a statement.
All private messages sent on Fire-Chat are encrypted from end to end, with the result that only the sender and recipient can read a private message, the company said.
Other companies which are working on peer-to-peer mesh networks across the world include AirJaldi Networks and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).
As FireChat's 'network' grows over time, Open Garden plans to make the technology available to companies that develop apps and devices. The first few partnerships will be firmed up before the end of this year, the company said.
"Forget SMS and IM (instant messaging). Here comes OM (Off-the-grid messaging)," said Micha Benoliel, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based Open Garden, which has created the FireChat app.
"This innovation paves the way for the next evolution of the internet -- networks created by the people, for the people." India is Open Garden's second largest market globally, with one million users.
The app, which is currently free, makes it possible to chat on the smartphone without a data plan or network through peer-to-peer mesh networking technology and 'store and forward' capabilities. It transmits messages from phone to phone (which have the app installed) until the messages reach the intended recipient.
FireChat transmits messages by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios installed in a smartphone.
So far, the company's communication channels were public, much like a Twitter feed, where everyone could see the flow of conversation. So the app was used primarily for disaster-struck areas. In March, it was used when Kashmir experienced relentless rainfall that invoked memories of last year's flood.
It powered Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella movement, and was a key communication channel during internet blackouts in Iran and Iraq in 2014.
But now, having solved technical issues for private messaging such as off-the-grid identity, routing, encryption and interoperability between operating systems, the company is hoping its app will become much more ubiquitous for everyday communication.
According to the company, if all networks were down in a city, it would take less than 5% of the city's population on FireChat to cover the entire city with message delivery time of 10-20 minutes. The more the number of users the stronger the networks, which is why these are sometimes called self-healing networks.
"Unlike traditional networks or Google and Facebook's endeavours to expand the reach of the internet via satellites, drones and balloons, our new networking model does not require capital and scales up infinitely," the four-year-old company said in a statement.
All private messages sent on Fire-Chat are encrypted from end to end, with the result that only the sender and recipient can read a private message, the company said.
Other companies which are working on peer-to-peer mesh networks across the world include AirJaldi Networks and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).
As FireChat's 'network' grows over time, Open Garden plans to make the technology available to companies that develop apps and devices. The first few partnerships will be firmed up before the end of this year, the company said.
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