Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Swedish Company Trials Peer-to-Peer Cellphones

Posted by Zonk on from the we-can-hear-everybody-now dept.

Dr_Barnowl writes "A company named TerraNet is going through a trial period for a p2p based mobile telephony system. Phones are used to route calls onto other phones, constructing mesh networks of 'up to 20km'. The BBC reports on the natural tendency of the big telecoms providers to want to squash this. I can see other problems though. The advantages in an environment with sparse cell coverage are obvious, but network effects mean that the number of connections in a heavily populated mesh grow exponentially. What happens to your battery life when your phone becomes a node? And while the company is optimistic that they have a viable technology model from IP licensing, the demand for devices supporting this is going to be proportional to the number of devices that it can connect you to."

5 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Privacy Concerns Anyone? by Crazy+Taco · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This brings to mind some major privacy concerns too. Who besides me doesn't want my conversation getting routed through someone else's phone?

    --
    Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.
    1. Re:Privacy Concerns Anyone? by vertinox · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This brings to mind some major privacy concerns too. Who besides me doesn't want my conversation getting routed through someone else's phone?

      Do you use IRC, Skype, or some type of chat software?

      Maybe say... Internet forums?

      Then your conversations are already being routed through someone else's hardware. You can always use encryption though in all cases.

      --
      "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
      -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
    2. Re:Privacy Concerns Anyone? by Neil+Watson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The phone call is already going through the air for anyone one with the will and know-how to intercept.

      --
      UNIX/Linux Consulting
  2. countdown to filesharing by rucs_hack · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd give it a year after this implemented and people will be routinely sharing music over this system.

    Then there will be uproar from the music police, and they will insist on such draconian anti piracy measures that the technology will become all but unusable.

    Or am I being pessimistic.

  3. Re:Do you hold nuclear security codes? by apparently · · Score: 3, Insightful
    What on earth makes you think other people would want to listen to your phone conversations?

    Gee, I dunno, most people's internet traffic is pretty fucking boring, but it doesn't stop the script kiddies from firing up their favorite wireless sniffer and eavesdropping. Why ever would I be concerned about someone eavesdropping on a phone call? Is that seriously the most sound "counterargument" you could come up with?