The FireChat app, pictured, uses Apple's iOS 7 Multipeer Connectivity Framework to turn create a network of phone users without using mobile signal . Buried within the settings of Apple’s iOS 7 is a feature that could revolutionise how we communicate. Called the Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF), it lets you send messages and photos even when a person has no signal. Now a group of developers has created a free iPhone app called FireChat that takes advantage of this feature - and it even works over long distances. The FireChat app was developed by the crowdsourced firm Open Garden. When a user opens the app, they can pick a screen name to start sending messages. Within the app there are 'chatrooms' with 'Everyone' and 'Nearby' options. The former will search for all users, while the latter option applies to people within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range who are also using the app. This is particularly useful when on a plane, or the underground. It can also be used to save money on data plans, for example. Apple added MCF to its iOS 7 software last year. It creates what is called a wireless mesh network that connects phones to each other. In 'Nearby' mode, instead . of sending messages using a mobile or data signal, the feature lets . users send messages to people in close proximity that are in Bluetooth . or Wi-Fi Direct range - up to around 30 feet (9 metres). It does this by creating a localised network in which each phone becomes a node, and the data is passed between nodes. Apple . uses the framework for its AirDrop feature, for example, which makes it . easy to send files and data to other connected iPhone users. The FireChat app, pictured left, was developed by Open Garden. In the app there are 'chatrooms' including Everyone and Nearby. The former searches for all users, while the latter applies to people within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range. It takes advantage of the same iOS 7 tool Apple uses for its AirDrop feature, pictured right . Apple added Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF) to its iOS 7 software . last year. It creates what’s called a wireless mesh network that . connects phones to each other. Instead . of sending messages using mobile or data signal, the features lets . users send messages to people in close proximity that are in Bluetooth . or Wi-Fi Direct range - up to around 30 feet (9 metres). It does this by creating a localised network in which each phone becomes a node and the data is passed between nodes. Apple . uses the framework for its AirDrop feature, for example, which makes it easy to . send files and data to other connected iPhone users. These messages are sent securely, so the individual nodes can’t read them. Users can also send messages anonymously to avoid snooping, for example, because data is sent from app usernames, as opposed to mobile numbers. Elsewhere, because the feature doesn’t use an internet connection, it can’t be infiltrated by hackers. The 'Everyone' Setting allows people to send information further however. It does this by bringing all its nodes . onto one network and relaying messages from one node to another until . it reaches the final recipient. It is not known whether there is a . maximum distance the app will work within, and in theory it will work wherever there are nodes, but MailOnline has . contacted the company to find out more. The distance a message can be sent is probably dependent on whether a given region has the nodes needed to relay the messages. Nodes . are simply a vehicle for passing data along a network. On a traditional . internet network any device that’s connected to the network is also . called a node. For example, if a network has a phone, tablet, two computers and a printer connected to it there are five nodes on the network. Each . of these devices have a network address which is used to uniquely . identify each one. This helps keep track of where data is being . transferred to and from on the network. There is an Android version of the mesh networking feature, developed by Open Garden, but it is not a chat app and is instead used for file sharing.
The iOS 7 feature is called Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF)
It creates what's called a wireless mesh, or peer-to-peer, network .
Instead of sending messages using a mobile signal, the free app creates its own network where each mobile on it becomes a 'node'
This means people in close proximity can message other nodes .
Messages are also sent over long distance by relaying data from one node to another anonymously .
The FireChat app, pictured, uses Apple's iOS 7 Multipeer Connectivity Framework to turn create a network of phone users without using mobile signal . Buried within the settings of Apple’s iOS 7 is a feature that could revolutionise how we communicate. Called the Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF), it lets you send messages and photos even when a person has no signal. Now a group of developers has created a free iPhone app called FireChat that takes advantage of this feature - and it even works over long distances. The FireChat app was developed by the crowdsourced firm Open Garden. When a user opens the app, they can pick a screen name to start sending messages. Within the app there are 'chatrooms' with 'Everyone' and 'Nearby' options. The former will search for all users, while the latter option applies to people within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range who are also using the app. This is particularly useful when on a plane, or the underground. It can also be used to save money on data plans, for example. Apple added MCF to its iOS 7 software last year. It creates what is called a wireless mesh network that connects phones to each other. In 'Nearby' mode, instead . of sending messages using a mobile or data signal, the feature lets . users send messages to people in close proximity that are in Bluetooth . or Wi-Fi Direct range - up to around 30 feet (9 metres). It does this by creating a localised network in which each phone becomes a node, and the data is passed between nodes. Apple . uses the framework for its AirDrop feature, for example, which makes it . easy to send files and data to other connected iPhone users. The FireChat app, pictured left, was developed by Open Garden. In the app there are 'chatrooms' including Everyone and Nearby. The former searches for all users, while the latter applies to people within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range. It takes advantage of the same iOS 7 tool Apple uses for its AirDrop feature, pictured right . Apple added Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF) to its iOS 7 software . last year. It creates what’s called a wireless mesh network that . connects phones to each other. Instead . of sending messages using mobile or data signal, the features lets . users send messages to people in close proximity that are in Bluetooth . or Wi-Fi Direct range - up to around 30 feet (9 metres). It does this by creating a localised network in which each phone becomes a node and the data is passed between nodes. Apple . uses the framework for its AirDrop feature, for example, which makes it easy to . send files and data to other connected iPhone users. These messages are sent securely, so the individual nodes can’t read them. Users can also send messages anonymously to avoid snooping, for example, because data is sent from app usernames, as opposed to mobile numbers. Elsewhere, because the feature doesn’t use an internet connection, it can’t be infiltrated by hackers. The 'Everyone' Setting allows people to send information further however. It does this by bringing all its nodes . onto one network and relaying messages from one node to another until . it reaches the final recipient. It is not known whether there is a . maximum distance the app will work within, and in theory it will work wherever there are nodes, but MailOnline has . contacted the company to find out more. The distance a message can be sent is probably dependent on whether a given region has the nodes needed to relay the messages. Nodes . are simply a vehicle for passing data along a network. On a traditional . internet network any device that’s connected to the network is also . called a node. For example, if a network has a phone, tablet, two computers and a printer connected to it there are five nodes on the network. Each . of these devices have a network address which is used to uniquely . identify each one. This helps keep track of where data is being . transferred to and from on the network. There is an Android version of the mesh networking feature, developed by Open Garden, but it is not a chat app and is instead used for file sharing.
feature - and it even works over long distances. and Wi-Fi range who are also using the app. This called a wireless mesh network that connects of sending messages using a mobile or data people in close proximity that are in Bluetooth . network in which each phone becomes a node, and added Multipeer Connectivity Framework (MCF) to its iOS 7 software . last year. It creates what’s phones to each other. Instead . of sending messages using mobile or data signal, the relaying messages from one node to another until distance a message can be sent is probably