What is Firechat by Firebase?
Firechat by Firebase is a peer-to-peer messaging app launched in 2014 that enables users to communicate without an internet connection or cellular service. It leverages peer-to-peer wireless technologies like Bluetooth and WiFi to allow real-time chat between users connected on the same network.
The key benefit of Firechat is its ability to function without an internet connection. This makes it useful for communication when cellular networks are overloaded or unavailable, like at crowded events or during natural disasters. It creates a wireless mesh network between devices running the app, with messages relayed from one device to another until it reaches the intended recipient.
Firechat does not require any personal information to sign up and use. Users choose a nickname and can communicate anonymously. It also stores chat history on the device so conversations are accessible even when completely offline. Besides text messaging, Firechat allows sharing of photos.
Firechat saw a surge in popularity during the Hong Kong protests in 2014, enabling protesters to communicate despite overloaded cell networks. It has also been used at festivals and conventions where cellular networks get congested. Limitations include needing a critical user mass in an area for the mesh network to work, and shorter WiFi range compared to long-range cellular networks.