These apps are known as ‘Off-the-grid’ chat messenger app that works even without internet connection or 2G, 3G, or 4G network coverage, somewhat like the Walkie-Talkie app for iOS and Android. These apps allow you to communicate with each other within a range of up to 100 – 200 meters, it works by broadcasting your encrypted data via the WiFi or Bluetooth.
If there is no direct connection between A and C, the app will bounce the message from A to B to C. In short, it is a P2P (peer to peer) software without a central server like WhatsApp, Line, WeChat and Facebook Message. Three good reasons for using ‘Off the grid’ aka Mesh Network chat. These chat apps can also be used as a walkie talkie. Works great on Android 8.0 Oreo / Android 9.0 [ Popsicle, Pancakes or Pie ] smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy, Huawei Mate, Oppo, Vivo, XiaoMi, Nokia, and also Apple’s iOS iPhone.
Which is all good, but there are three main challenges here:
- Others in the community need to be using the same app, which implies some discussion and agreement beforehand on which app.
- They (and you) need to already have it installed before it is needed.
- Generally, most of the apps are either Android or iOS only. iOS’s apps are particularly crippled by Apple’s OS policies.
See https://www.geckoandfly.com/22562/chat-without-internet-connection-mesh-network/
#technology #meshnetworks #P2P #disasters