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770 points ananddtyagi | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.211s | source
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moneywaters ◴[] No.44487086[source]
I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones.

Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the message one hop further. • End-to-end encrypted, fully decentralized, optionally anonymous.

Basically, a “postal network” built on people’s phones, without needing a traditional internet connection. Works best in areas with patchy or no internet, or under censorship.

Obvious challenges: • Latency and reliability (it’s not real-time). • Abuse/spam prevention. • Power consumption and user opt-in. • Viable incentive structures.

What do you think? Is this viable? Any real-world use cases where this might be actually useful — or is it just a neat academic toy?

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jacobgkau ◴[] No.44487126[source]
> Works best in areas with patchy or no internet, or under censorship.

The biggest problem I immediately foresee is that this sounds backwards. It doesn't work best in areas with patchy or no internet, it works best in areas with lots of participating devices. It's most needed in areas with patchy or no internet, but those areas are likely to be the opposite of the areas with lots of participating devices.

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Dr4kn ◴[] No.44487298[source]
If your country shuts off Internet access for demonstrations this would work great.
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1. thekid314 ◴[] No.44501358[source]
Yeah, I used an older version of a bluetooth messaging app like this. We wish it had been available in the times of Tahrir Square, but it was actually helpfull onetime when my bus stopped at a rural Ethiopian bus stop, my girlfriend ran into the bathroom but was taking too long and I was able to warn her that the bus was getting ready to leave.

Wireless internet is getting better, but when you really need something like this, you really need it.