Next Generation Mobile Communication without Spending Airtime Balance – Oppo Meshtalk
Communication is one of the essential use of mobile phones. Be it in a crowded urban area, or the most remote villages, we use phone to communicate. In fact, as early as 1918, telephones were made to permit two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be heard directly.
Lately, a lot of messaging applications are in the market. We have:
- Facebook Messenger
- Katalk
- Line
- Snapchat
- Viber
- Telegram
- BBM
- Hangouts
- Etc
Our smartphones enable constant and instant communication with our family, friends, and even work colleagues, but the built-in options out of the box aren’t always the best. Messaging apps have grown to provide rich services offering all kinds of interactions with others, from free text messaging, to voice and video calling, to photo and file sharing with the added benefit of encryption.
Distinguishable
While makers and carriers are talking up the benefits of 5G, Oppo chose to be different. The brand realized the inevitable circumstances and situations that hinders technological communication. To name few of it, we have:
- No network coverage
- No prepaid or postpaid credit
- No wifi available
- No bluetooth
It was at MWC Shanghai, China that they announced their new proprietary communications’ technology designed to let people call or chat across medium distances without using cellular networks, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. Together with it was the showing off of the world’s first phone with a camera under the screen. The protocol is called MeshTalk. It decentralized, end-to-end system that Oppo says can cover up to 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) outdoors — or even further in more crowded environments when signal relays between devices can be used.
How it Works!
Here is the OPPO’s official statement:
“At MWC Shanghai 2019, OPPO presented MeshTalk, a new proprietary communication technology that allows the transmission of texts, voice messages and phone calls via OPPO devices within 3 km without having to use the telephone network, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. OPPO MeshTalk also allows multiple devices to create an ad hoc local area network (LAN) allowing the creation of group chats and expanding the communication range via a signal relay. MeshTalk supports LAN communications wherever OPPO devices are located, provided they are in the mutual signal range.”
– OPPO
To develop its MeshTalk technology, OPPO has customized the communication chip to take advantage of decentralization, greater speed and lower power consumption. MeshTalk is an innovative end-to-end communication solution that bypasses base stations, servers and other devices, allowing users a higher level of privacy.“
One of the most amazing benefits of this, is the uncomplicated and trouble free connection with people who are caught up during natural disasters especially those people living in remote areas. We could also think of a time when an oppressive regime turns off access to the internet. Or where a government tries to forcefully shut down an encrypted app that’s used by demonstrators — it happened in Hong Kong with Telegram just last week. The MeshTalk will be very useful.
“At times, we encounter extreme situations when there is no network coverage at all — for example, when you just arrive at an airport in a foreign country or when you take an off-road trip or attend a concert, football match, or exhibition,” Oppo said in a press release (via VentureBeat). “[This] technology offers a solution to such scenarios in which other network connections are unavailable.”
CONS
Oppo didn’t reveal what kind of tech is behind MeshTalk or when the first phones with it will be available on the market. We imagine that this is with a clear line of sight. Actually, this is much more than a radio or walkie-talkie because of the relaying feature. The 3km maximum range can be exceeded when there are other Mesh network participants in-between.
A mesh network is a network of interlocked routers called nodes, or points. These nodes work with one another to supply internet coverage over a broad area, something a traditional home network can’t provide. Still, as the name suggests this is a mesh network – it can route the message through several nearby devices so it can reach its target, even if it’s too far from a direct connection.
The feature has been one of the most popular topics in tech. OPPO is confident that the feature positions the brand as a leader in smartphone design innovation.
