Government agencies hate the tricky, decentralized nature of peer-to-peer networks, and that may just be the draw that makes BitTorrent's new messing app a long-term success.
Like it's file-sharing client, BitTorrent's Bleep sends fragments of messages and voice calls between users along a convoluted route of peer hosts. The messages and voice packets are reassembled at the end, but parties looking to intercept communications can only hope to receive a few cryptic slices of the information exchange.
"Every message sent through Bleep is fully encrypted, end to end, and only stored locally on your device, ensuring privacy with every message," says BitTorrent. "Users can also easily delete their encrypted message history, leaving no trace of conversation behind."
Farid Fadaie, head of product for BitTorrent Bleep, says Bleep will eventually use BitTorrent's distributed hash table, which will provide the network infrastructure to support the weight of the first round of users who use the official release of the messaging client. It eliminates the "chicken-and-egg problem," says Fadaie.
Bleep, as far as usage, can be thought of as a sat phone used by covert operators, who only use secure satellite connections to communicate the most sensitive details. Bleep requires that both parties are online in order for it to transmit a message, as it will dump data if a recipient isn't available.
Bleep, which held a closed alpha testing period in July, is designed to offer users a convenient means of communication that doesn't compromise on privacy, says BitTorrent. Messages are only stored locally and histories can be permanently deleted.
"Communicating with friends, family and coworkers is easier than ever, but at what cost," says BitTorrent. "The Internet promotes the free exchange of information, but we often sacrifice privacy for the sake of convenience. Cloud-based services store personal information and private moments on servers, making them vulnerable to attacks."
The announcement of Bleep's open alpha period brought with it news that the communications clients is now available on Android and Mac. BitTorrent says it hopes to release an iOS version of the client sometime soon.
While BitTorrent works out battery and data issues, it warns users of the Android version of Bleep to consider using Wi-Fi only if they don't have an unlimited data plan from their cell service providers. There also isn't any cohesion between devices yet, meaning messages received will only show up on one of the user's devices.
BitTorrent also unveiled a new logo for Bleep, which is says was influenced by old-school folded notes.
"There is no middleman," says BitTorrent. "The image of a folded note is designed to be a symbol of speed, privacy, and peace of mind in the digital age."
