Add support for bluetooth/local wifi messaging · Discussion #1501 · simplex-chat/simplex-chat
github.com
Feature request for adding support for offline end to end encrypted bluetooth messaging or even local wifi Use cases - airline travel (airlines only allow imessage and whatapp on free wifi as they ...

Was scrolling through my forums and came across this discussion on simplex chat, for an request for end to end encrypted offline bluetooth messaging. I thought this was a great feature but the **developer will only consider if people vote. So take a vote! **

  • ccx@sopuli.xyz
    4·
    2 years ago

    While potentially great idea for local area communication, I’d very much prefer more work on basic UX and usability for now.

    As for non-local communication, I’m not sure how well that fits with SimpleX model. Briar is able to use mesh of relays that can be only intermittently connected to each other. On the other hand SimpleX is designed to give as little information to relay nodes on the internet about the origin or recipient of the messages. From what I’d read of it so far I’d assume that giving relays enough information to route messages to you would be counter to it’s privacy guarantees.

      • ccx@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        2 years ago

        Like it or not Apple may just say no. They already refuse to give Bluetooth access to background applications in a way that would be useful to p2p messenger. And AppStore inclusion is at their whim, which given their current track record in HK/China I’d be very skeptical about. So unless you are talking about users willing to jailbreak and modify core components of their devices support from application developers doesn’t necessarily accomplish what you want.

        That said, Briar developers said they are willing to give technical support to any independent party developing iOS client, they are just not planning to do it themselves. Which I find very understandable because:

        • They have no iOS app developers on staff
        • Their codebase is not portable to iOS, requiring basically full rewrite anyway
        • This whole affair is a risky investment of time and energy for something that competes with core Apple product (AirDrop)

        If SimpleX decides to implement any form of Bluetooth messaging that’s compatible with iOS it will be by necessity very restricted and there’s very little the developers can do about that.

        • ccx@sopuli.xyz
          2·
          2 years ago

          That’s wishful thinking when some of the platforms just flat out refuse to support necessary features for maintaining p2p connections.

          Complaining to application developers won’t change a thing about that.

          Complain to Apple instead, preferably in the form of not buying their products unless they actually open their devices to third-party software without artificial limitations in the way.