BitTorrent has made its private and secure messaging app available to all potential users, following an invitation-only alpha testing period last year. Alongside the existing Windows, OS X, and Android versions, Bleep has finally made the transition to iOS, allowing iPhone and iPad owners to use the end-to-end encrypted, peer-to-peer messaging service.
Bleep lets users create an account using just a nickname, which in turn creates a Bleep Key that can be shared so others can connect with the account holder, or alternately the phone’s email addresses and phone numbers can be verified to make it easier for others to discover the account. Messages and images are stored on the device and encrypted before reaching the Internet, which the service claims means no metadata nor messages will be readable by hackers or governmental surveillance activities.
New for the latest release is the option of sending “whisper” messages. In a similar way to Snapchat, the messages and pictures sent as a whisper will disappear from the recipient’s device 25 seconds after they have been viewed.
Screenshot protection has also been added, allowing people to capture the conversation in an image, but blurring the participant’s identities, though it is also possible to capture the sender of the conversation but not the conversation. The app also allows for free voice calls between users, connected directly and also with end-to-end encryption.
