We first got to know Bleep in late 2014 , when it was released as a private beta. The messaging app, available for Android and iOS mobile platforms, and Windows and Mac OS X desktop operating systems, promises end-to-end message encryption in a decentralized environment.
BitTorrent released the Bleep app to everyone yesterday with new features and several improvements.
Let's take another look at the application to see what changed and how it works.
The first great feature of the Bleep app is that you don't need to register to start using it. All you have to do is enter a nickname, which your friends and contacts will see in their contact bar and in chat.
However, you can add a phone number or an e-mail, so that your friends can find you more easily.
This is, however, completely optional and if you don't want to do it, it's not necessary, as there is another option to add contacts in Bleep.
All Bleep installations use public and private keys, and provide options to add contacts that use public keys. Thus, to add a contact without revealing anything about yourself, you can simply add their public key to see the contact in your Bleep.
On mobile devices, this is usually done by scanning a QR Code using Bleep's built-in scanner, while computer users must enter the public key manually.
To communicate, select a contact and start typing your message. One of Bleep's new features is the whisper option, which is used to send messages that self-destruct from mobile devices or computer applications.
Note that you will need to hold down the Shift key on your computer to send a whisper, as there is no indicator or button you can press like there is on mobile devices.
The message will appear on the recipient's device as a new whisper message. If enabled, it will appear and automatically delete after 25 seconds.
The Bleep app not only supports sending text messages and sending photos, but also supports voice calls. Simply enable the call option after you have selected the account you want to call through Bleep.
There certainly isn't a plethora of messaging apps, but Bleep stands out in several ways.
For example, it can be used without revealing information about the user and without requiring any account registration.
All connections are instantly end-to-end encrypted, so your personal information or metadata will not leak to a cloud server, or anywhere else on the internet.
