- New app works without WiFi or mobile data
- Uses Bluetooth to send encrypted messages
- Designed for outages, censorship, and privacy
- Already downloaded by over 10,000 testers
Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has quietly stepped back into the tech spotlight with the launch of BitChat, a new messaging app that works even when there is no internet, WiFi, or mobile data.
BitChat, released over the weekend for beta testing, uses Bluetooth mesh networks to send messages between nearby devices.
Instead of relying on traditional servers or telecom infrastructure, each phone acts as both a sender and receiver, passing messages along the network until they reach the intended user.
In simple terms, as long as people are physically near each other, messages can still move even during blackouts, shutdowns, or network failures.
Dorsey described the app as a solution for “resilient and private communication” in situations where access to the internet is restricted or unavailable.
According to a technical white paper shared online, BitChat offers encrypted, short-lived messages that do not depend on centralised systems.
Within hours of launch, more than 10,000 users had already downloaded the app through Apple’s TestFlight, signalling strong early interest, especially among privacy advocates and tech enthusiasts.
One standout feature is BitChat’s ability to store and forward messages to users who are temporarily offline, meaning messages are delivered once the recipient reconnects to the Bluetooth network. The app also allows users to create group chats protected by passwords and organised using hashtags.
Dorsey says future updates will add WiFi Direct support, which will significantly boost message speed and range beyond standard Bluetooth limits.
While BitChat is still in its early testing phase, its launch comes at a time when concerns about censorship, surveillance, and internet shutdowns are growing worldwide. For many users, the idea of a messaging app that works off-grid could be a game-changer.
Whether BitChat can compete with giants like WhatsApp remains to be seen, but one thing is clear Jack Dorsey is betting that the future of messaging doesn’t always need the internet.
