Best communication app in case internet is down(using WIFI / BT)?

Hi,
Does anyone know what’s the best ‘non-internet’ communication app?
Since WEF speculated about internet disruption, i’m kind of interested to learn the alternatives…

i heard during HongKong protests they used “Bridgefy app”, but that thing is full of trackers.
Via alternatives.io i found only a few non-internet mesh-network type communication apps.

  • Tango SmartMesh - Their site feels like big tech. Correct me if i’m wrong.
  • Talkie - Only works in single WIFI router range(afaik).
  • Briar - I’m not very familiar, but [edit] i was told it supports local wifi and BT connections to contacts, but it doesn’t do hopping networks via WIFI/BT.

Are there any other apps/technologies worth looing at for communicating over an alternative communications network over wifi/BT?

1 Like

I think you may be interested in https://briarproject.org/

One benefit of Briar is that it isn’t Bluetooth-only, so it can help let messages reach outside of the “no-internet” area if one person manages to get out of it. See https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/ for more detailed.

So it works both when the Internet is shut down, but also helps people “smuggle” messages in and out of such a zone.

4 Likes

Very interesting thread - I was not aware of these mesh networks, thank you.

mm, Looking at the result,
i think the opensource community isn’t able to do what Tango Smartmesh and Bridgefy can do

Maybe the real ether-net is the only viable alternative?
e.g. winlink - sending messages over ham radio

Wow🧐 Amazon Alexa, Echo, Ring etc. devices have been equipped with HAM radio equipment?!

1 Like