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Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has developed a Bluetooth messaging app called Bitchat, which allows users to communicate without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. The app can relay messages over distances up to 300 meters. Currently in beta testing, Bitchat aims to support decentralized communication, echoing Dorsey's interests in technology and privacy.
Key points
- Jack Dorsey announced the creation of Bitchat, a Bluetooth messaging app.
- The app works without Wi-Fi or cellular reception, using Bluetooth mesh networks.
- Bitchat can relay messages over 300 meters, aiming to help users in connectivity-challenged environments.
- Dorsey's motivations include a focus on decentralized technology and privacy.
- The app is being beta tested on Apple's Testflight and has reached its user limit.
- Bitchat includes end-to-end encryption for secure communication.
Why it matters
- Similar to Bridgefy, which was used during protests in Hong Kong, Bitchat allows for communication in areas without stable internet access.
- Dorsey’s continued focus on decentralized applications aligns with ongoing trends in IT toward privacy and user autonomy.
- The rise of decentralized tools reflects broader societal demands for privacy and security in digital communication.
Dorsey's Bitchat represents a significant step in promoting decentralized communication, paralleling current IT trends emphasizing user privacy, especially relevant in contexts of political unrest and increasing surveillance.