Jami is a free/libre, end-to-end encrypted, and private communication software.
(i haven't seen it mentioned in this sub. it has improved quite a bit since its inception. it deserves some credit🥂)
Jami is a free/libre, end-to-end encrypted and private communication platform that requires no central authority.
Multiple devices can be linked to a Jami account, and no personal information is required to create an account.
What features does Jami include?
Instant messaging
Audio and video calls
Swarms (group chats)
Video-conferences and Rendezvous points with no third-party hosting
Audio and video message recording
Screen sharing and media streaming
Built-in extension platform for new features and experiences
Jami can also function as a SIP client
Jami uses a distributed hash table (DHT) to connect peers. Jami accounts are asymmetric X.509 certificates generated by the GnuTLS library. Calls are made over the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) after negotiating a TLS-encrypted secure connection, performing Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) communication which carries the media streams.
it checks if it's unique. if so, then it generates an SSL style certificate. This is your identity and contains a private key and only exists on your device. This thing acts as your password and identity. Losing this thing is fatal. nobody else has a copy. So you have to back it up yourself. There's an option in the app to back it up. (it is saved in some zip format)
then you enter a screen name.
you can install your identity in any amount of devices. But you can also easily give every device it's own account.
i use this app on my devices(telephones, laptops), so that i can easily share any file (photo and documents) between them. photo's are sent losless, unlike whatsapp.
Oh.. and another thing;
Because it's serverless technology, it's dependant on all other nodes in the system to form a mesh.
Whenever a node switches networks (e.g. when the software is running on a cellphone and you switch from WiFi to cell-band, or you're switching cell towers), then it has to re-initialize with its peers under the new IP address.
in such case it helps when, from your profile-settings, you switch your profile off and on again.