Myanmar residents are currently relying on an offline messaging app since the country's military has disrupted internet traffic. Sources confirmed that Bridgefy has been downloaded more than 600,000 times in the country!
TOKYO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 13: A woman wearing a face mask uses a smartphone as she walks through a shopping district at night on February 13, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. At least 219 passengers and crew onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19 making it the biggest centre of the virus outside China. Japan has also so far diagnosed 28 other people with the illness, some of whom are evacuees from Wuhan
The information was confirmed by the app's official account, stating that people have downloaded the app thousands of times in just a few hours.
"We're grateful to share that the Bridgefy App was downloaded more than 600,000 times in #Myanmar today, in just a few hours. Hopefully, people will find it helpful during tough times. Please stay safe!" said Bridgefy via its official Twitter account.
According to Gadgets 360's latest report, the download surge happened after the country's military seized power on Monday, Feb. 1, and temporarily disrupted Myanmar's internet traffic.
Can Bridgefy help Myanmar?
Bridgefy, the offline messaging app that also became popular in Hong Kong due to pro-democracy protests in 2020, said that it hopes its service would help the country's residents during tough times. The issue started after the military began arresting democratically elected leaders.
BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27: Chinese boys look at their smartphone in front of their house next to a coal fired power plant on November 27, 2015 on the outskirts of Beijing, China. China's government has set 2030 as a deadline for the country to reach its peak for emissions of carbon dioxide, what scientists and environmentalists cite as the primary cause of climate change. At an upcoming conference in Paris,
They disrupted phone and internet connections in the main city Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw, including some parts of the country. Although communications were restored by late Feb. 1, activists still encouraged Myanmar to install Bridgfy as a solution to possible further shutdowns.
We're grateful to share that the Bridgefy App was downloaded more than 600,000 times in #Myanmar today, in just a few hours. Hopefully, people will find it helpful during tough times. Please stay safe!
— bridgefy.me (@bridgefy) February 1, 2021
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The rising offline messaging app gained popularity around the world, especially in countries that have a history of implementing social media platform restrictions. However, security experts said that offline messaging apps could expose users to possible surveillance.
Best offline messaging apps
Right now, Myanmar clearly faces hard times since they are now relying on offline messaging apps just to communicate with each other. Here are some of the best offline applications they can use, and even you can install them. Fossbytes explained that the apps in the list should work properly even if there's no internet connection.
- Meshenger (Link to F-Droid)
- Bridgefy
- Rumble
- Two Way: Walkie Talkie
- Briar
- Serval Mesh
For more news updates about Bridgefy and other messaging app innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
