Open Garden's New Firechat App Enables Anyone to Create Their Own "Firechats"

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Garden announced today that its newest app, FireChat 2, is now available on the App Store and on Google Play. After introducing off-the-grid messaging, FireChat now enables people to create their own "firechats," focused on the topics or communities that interest them - whether it's the NY Yankees, UC San Diego, Game of Thrones, or Italian food.

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A new type of communication for mobile devices, "firechats" are free-form, live, fast-paced, and anonymous group discussions – with the freedom to move easily from one to another, just as one might when attending a party. Firechats work even if no connection to the Internet or cellular phone coverage is available.

"FireChat reached the top 10 amongst social networking apps in 115 countries around the word. We were surprised by this instant success and sought to better understand the needs that this app fulfills," said Micha Benoliel, Open Garden's CEO and co-founder. "People told us they love FireChat's fun, rapid-fire exchanges. We asked ourselves: could social networks be like parties? This a step in that direction. We aim to take anonymous mobile communications to the next level, providing relief to social networks fatigue and privacy concerns. "

FireChat is well-suited for any situation where no reliable connectivity is available, including clubs, concerts, conferences, outdoor festivals, college campuses, public transportation, and stadiums.

About FireChat

The FireChat app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play at GetFireChat.com.

FireChat uses mesh networking to give people the ability to chat with others nearby, even when no Internet connection or cellular coverage is available. On iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, FireChat takes advantage of Apple's Multipeer Connectivity Framework introduced with iOS 7. On Android smartphones and tablets, FireChat uses Open Garden's mesh networking technology.

Features and capabilities:

• Instantly message anyone around you on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or Android devices,
• Works even without any Internet connection or cellular phone coverage,
• See what people are talking across the country in the "Everyone" mode,
• Create your own "firechats" for discussions focused on specific topics or communities,
• Use the "Nearby" mode for off-the-grid communications, up to 200 feet of your location, (between people using devices with the same operating system),
• Multi-hop capabilities extend the range of peer-to-peer communications,
• Easy: no Facebook or email login, no password to remember,
• Use it at home or when traveling anywhere in the world,
• No significant impact on battery consumption.

About Open Garden

Open Garden is a San Francisco-based startup dedicated to connecting the next 5B mobile devices with peer-to-peer connections by leveraging the density of mobile devices.

Open Garden was recognized as the Most Innovative Startup when it was debuted at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012, and won the Grand Prize at the GMIC startup competition in October 2013. Over 5 million people have installed an Open Garden app. Find out more at www.opengarden.com

Press Contact:
Jenny Ryan - P. +1 415 800 4421 - Email

SOURCE Open Garden