Soprani.ca: Embracing Then Extinguishing the (Cell) Phone Network
What is Soprani.ca?
a bridge to people on the phone network:
- a way to contact them over the Internet, no carrier needed
- using normal text/picture messages and calls
- has been built (for CA/US anyway): https://jmp.chat/
a replacement for the cellular network itself:
- the part that transmits calls/messages/data over the air...
- ... hasn't been built yet, so we're working on that now: WOM
The bridge: JMP
JMP gives you a real phone number that is Internet-enabled
you can use your phone number from an app or web browser
you don't need to pay a cell carrier if you don't want to
- or switch to data-only and save some money ($23/mo total)
DEMO...
Replacing the rest: WOM
WOM (WPAN Of Messaging) replaces the radio part of cell service
WOM is XMPP over chibiArduino (thin messaging on IEEE 802.15.4)
WOM uses public airwaves for P2P or client-server communication
WOM gateways will provide Internet connectivity (want to help?)
WOM with JMP lets you text people if near a gateway (or wifi)
WOM works even without gateways; XEP-0174 allows peer-to-peer
WOM - the details
operates over 900 MHz bands (902-928 in NA, 868.0-868.6 in Europe)
would be nice to add white spaces (~50-600 MHz with coordination)
900 MHz allows for dozens of km (miles) of line-of-sight range
less range in urban centres - gateway volunteers crucial
900 MHz regulation lets us mesh so can multi-hop to gateway
Bringing JMP and WOM mainstream
integrate WOM radio into existing cell phones (ideal)
- DragonBox Pyra, Purism Librem 5, Neo900, others?
- gives users LTE if they don't mind the carriers tracking them
- or go WOM-only for no tracking - eventually: WOM-only phones
create JMP SIM card for seamless JMP with existing cell phones
Benefits: security, privacy, and more
if friends insist on SMS, JMP encrypts so your carrier can't see
if you go WOM-only, carriers can't track where you are
if on LTE, still harder to track you by phone number if using JMP
WOM gives you control: network stays up if power/cell goes down
great for journalists, activism, and disaster resiliency
and it saves a lot of money today, using JMP with data-only plan
For everyone: building the network(s)
community involvement is key, in physical networks and software
running WOM nodes, especially nodes on the Internet
improving XMPP clients (especially iOS), standards
SIM cards and cell phones - know how to make these?
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