Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat: A Bluetooth Messaging App Without Internet or Phone Numbers

Speedy summary:

• Launch: Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has released a new messaging app called “Bitchat,” leveraging Bluetooth mesh networks to enable communication without internet, SIM cards, servers, or personal identity requirements.
• Technology: Bitchat creates a decentralized mesh network by linking nearby phones over Bluetooth. Users can send encrypted text messages through relays and use “store and forward” if the recipient is out of range.
• Features: Messages are ephemeral by default; no accounts or phone numbers are required for usage.
• Use Cases: Designed for protesters, activists in surveillance-heavy regions, people in disaster zones during network outages, and privacy-conscious users wanting off-grid communication solutions.
• Limitations: Short-range connectivity due to reliance on Bluetooth; supports only basic text-based communications (no multimedia). Early stages of app design may lack polished features.

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