[Mark Rejhon]

Hello,

Has anybody made any chat software that can run over Bluetooth? Such as a Bluetooth IRC-style chat program that can chat between surplus BlackBerries (no wireless subscriptions) in the same room?

Any of you software developers currently working on one?

[Elliot Lonsdale]

I think I saw a J2ME app like this on GetJar once. Dunno if it works on BBs.

Edit:

Bluetooth Chat / free download

[John Clark]

Loaded fine on my 8100....I don't have anyone to try it out with, though.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by John Clark

I don't have anyone to try it out with, though.

I never quite saw the usefulness of a Bluetooth chat application.
If you're within Bluetooth distance of another device... then just get up and talk to that person.
If you can't speak verbally... then send a PIN or SMS message. Surely you're close enough to see who's around you which would make it even more simple.

[Mark Rejhon]

I'm deaf, so this application is very useful to me.

(For those curious, check out my FAQ at Hearing Impairment FAQ by Mark D. Rejhon )

I have spare old BlackBerries without cellphone subscriptions that I'd like to impromptu-loan out to my friends when chatting in a bar, dinnertable, meetingroom, and other environment, especially in situations where I would otherwise be improvising communication method (because of it being too dark to lipread, too many people talking, etc.)

I'll do some research if BlueChat actually works. It appears to require OS 4.2 to work on a BlackBerry (because of Bluetooth in generic MIDP applications are not supported on OS 4.1 BlackBerry), which is unfortunate, and I only have one BlackBerry capable of running OS 4.2 (model 8700), which is a shame because I was hoping to utilize some old 7290's for this.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by Mark Rejhon

I'm deaf, so this application is very useful to me.

Ah... now that does make sense.
Please forgive the obvious short-sightedness on my part.

[Mark Rejhon]

Okay, it sorta works (found another 4.2 BlackBerry I could temporarily use).

Problems:
- Requires OS 4.2, so not compatible with older Bluetooth BlackBerry models;
- Somewhat unstable (hitting Q key causes it to crash);
- No splitscreen (Cannot type at the same time others are typing);
- Backscroll behaves weird/buggy;
- Too high-latency;
- Crashes a lot.

The fact that I am able to do this at all, does prove the premise that unactivated BlackBerries can use Bluetooth to communicate with each other. In other words, somebody needs to recreate this application using RIM API's rather than J2ME API's, to get around these limitations. Possibly use a continuous two-way SPP (serial) connection to eliminate latency, as well. Mesh networking to relay between more than 2 BlackBerries, would be needed.

In other words: It can be done. But this application isn't good enough. Somebody needs to reinvent this.

Another possible use: Internet sharing of multiple BlackBerries on one data plan, as long as all BlackBerries are reasonably close together. More technical info: For example, it may also be a method to allow 3 people to share one BlackBerry for a chat conference connection since in theory it's possible to have 3 concurrent IM logins (MSN/Google/Yahoo/AIM or whatever) over the same wireless connection. Own two cellphones but one cellphone plan -- and both of you can be logged onto two separate IM accounts (using Bluetooth as a bridge between these two cellphones). Internet sharing over Bluetooth, essentially! Obviously, applications would need to be specially designed to support TCP/IP proxy over Bluetooth, since it would not be normally possible to hook the OS's own TCP/IP stack. So no BlackBerry email, no BlackBerry browser on the unactivated phone, but Bluetooth isn't crippled if you don't have a SIM card, and this software proves it's possible to communicate between two BlackBerries (one activated, and one not activated), so the activated BlackBerry simply has to become the "proxy server" to the unactivated BlackBerry. And that the BES policy allows it.

[John Clark]

Interesting idea.....