We love iOS 7 and the great new features that came with it. Apple designed it to have an instant impact on the functionality and usability of its mobile OS. Not everything however, has immediate benefits. Apple added something called Multipeer Connectivity Framework with iOS 7 and this technology allows multiple devices, which don't have to be connected to the internet, to interact in a manner known as mesh networking. This is done by using connectivity in the form of Wi-Fi networks, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
You can use this new infrastructure by getting the iOS app called FireChat. It allows users to hold group conversations with those close by without the need for an internet connection. There are some situations where this could be very useful but because this is new technology, it does have its flaws. When we tested FireChat, we found that in terms of who might end up talking to, the possibilities are endless which in itself is a problem. On top of that, there isn't a great deal of structure to the networking aspect of the app. Further development and improvement in the way the Multipeer framework is used could see a great deal of potential for this new technology.
One place where this could prove invaluable is in disaster situations where cellular signal and normal Wi-Fi hotspots are at a premium. By connecting using a chat app like FireChat, people could establish a form of communication even when traditional systems have been hindered and in turn this could save a lot of lives. There are a lot more possibilities for this type of technology and we have to wait and see what becomes of this emerging form of peer-to-peer tech.