FireChat’s anonymous, off-grid messaging app arrives on Android

FireChat is debuting today in Google Play, after a successful launch on iOS. Android users can now engage in FireChat’s hyperlocal messaging sessions, but they won’t be able to chat with iOS devices.

FireChat has been on a rollercoaster ride since developer Open Garden released it for iOS last month, peaking at well over 100,000 iTunes downloads a day last Tuesday. Open Garden is now hoping for a repeat performance, this time on Android.

On Thursday, Open Garden released FireChat on Google Play. FireChat has set itself apart from other messaging apps in several ways. Not only is it anonymous and ephemeral — conversation streams disappear as soon as the app is closed — it’s designed to create proximity-based hyperlocal networks. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth links to connect to nearby devices without using the internet as an intermediary.

Read more...