FrostWire for Android allows multiple Android users connected to the same Wi-Fi network to chat and share files without an internet connection or third parties. It implements a new peer-to-peer protocol called MetaFrost to transfer files at speeds up to 1.2Mb/s. An alpha version is available for testers to help improve the app and protocol. The app aims to enhance in-person interactions by making it easy to share content locally on mobile devices.

1. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
Introducing FrostWire for Android
Phones and SmartPhones are social devices by nature; we can talk, text, email, browse the web, run
applications and access our favorite social networks.
Even though SmartPhones are more capable every day the technology world has a fixation on “cloud”
and “cloud based social networking”, it’s almost as if we’re forgetting how powerful computers (and
now SmartPhones) can be used to truly enhance the way we interact with the people around us.
Sharing files can be an issue
For example, record a video from your phone video camera and try sending it to people next to you, if
it’s more than a minute long you won’t be able to send it via email because it’s too large. You’ll be
forced to upload it to the web — or deal with the nuances and shortcomings of Bluetooth, which is
slow and cumbersome to set up. Now imagine sending that same video to 6 other people in the room.
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2. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
If social interaction can happen directly between two or more
people that’s the way it should be: phone to phone. Your messages and data should never have to
travel all over the internet if they need to end in another device in the same room.
When you want to share files with the people near you, you shouldn’t need cables. You shouldn’t even
need an internet connection. We think Wi-Fi connectivity and FrostWire is all you should ever need
on your phone.
FrostWire for Android allows multiple Android users connected to a Wi-Fi network to Chat and
Share Files at very high speeds in a peer to peer fashion, no third parties involved
With FrostWire for Android you’ll now be able to do things you could not do before:
Schools
Teachers and students can chat and share class related material like documents, notes and rich media.
Teachers are always looking for ways to engage with students and FrostWire will be a great
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3. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
opportunity to connect to your class.
Conferences
Speakers will now be able to deliver presentation slides and related material straight from their
Android device to all the attendees, who can in turn help seed the content.
Bars, Cafes, Libraries, Public Squares, Movie Theathers, Airports
Break the ice and meet new people with the Wi-Fi chat. Some of us are shy in real life but we’re very
good at interacting online. Use FrostWire to find each other or to get something you need from the
people connected in the same venue. Whenever you find yourself in front of an open Wi-Fi network
and lots of people there’s an opportunity to use FrostWire and engage in a new social behavior, Short
Range Social Networking.
Living Rooms. Home Parties Being an Android application it will run on your Google TV. Have
some pictures you took during the day, send them to your TV or with anyone else in the room.
Nights out with friends, Family Trips We’re tired of all the rain checks when we go out with our
friends — they never send those pictures or videos! With FrostWire you can now just grab the ones
you like right away.
Subway cars
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4. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
With the Froyo Release, Android phones can become Wi-Fi hotspots. Put enough people with
Android phones and FrostWire in a subway car and the daily commute becomes a lot more fun.
Data Exchange without censorship In countries like China and Iran where there are strict controls
over the internet, true peer to peer applications on Wi-Fi networks can provide a safe way to exchange
information.
What FrostWire for Android IS
FrostWire for Android is a Short Range Peer to Peer client. It’s purpose is to allow people in the same
place to interact and share files.
It implements a new p2p protocol meant for WiFi networks and mobile devices, keeping in
consideration things like battery life, packet de-congestion on the WiFi hotspot.
The name of this protocol is MetaFrost, we will release all the specifications once it’s matured
enough for the Open Source community to implement compatible clients.
In our tests we’ve been able to transfer files at average data rates of up to 1.2Mb/s, the closer to the
Wi-Fi hotspot you are the faster the transfer will be.
Tight integration with the desktop version is coming soon, and yes it’s free and will always be free.
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5. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
What FrostWire for Android IS NOT
FrostWire for Android is not a BitTorrent or Gnutella client.
Why? Because the wireless carriers can barely deliver your emails and web pages at this point. Also
because you would be breaking your wireless carrier contract if you did P2P networking on their
infrastructure.
Connectivity is not very reliable on 3G/EDGE and your phone will do more harm than good to the
health of the existing internet P2P networks (by just leeching intermittently) and not to mention the
limitations of space and battery that we still face on mobile devices.
Alpha version available to testers TODAY
Sign up to be among the first alpha testers. The FrostWire for Android alpha installer is already being
distributed to batches of hundreds of testers that meet the following criteria:
Have one or more Android Devices (+2.0)
See other people with Android Devices (+2.0) on a daily basis
Can express yourself clearly
Experience with Alpha Testing and Bug Reporting is a plus
Understand Filesharing and Love Technology
Love FrostWire
Mark your Turf
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6. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
FrostWire for Android will be very boring if you are all by yourself. If you find an Open Wi-Fi
network with lots of people to connect to it will make sense marking your territory, we think the best
way to mark your territory will be with FrostWire Stickers
Changelog and Feature set
FrostWire 0.1.0 - code name "Von Neumann"
- New Feature: Peer auto discovery on the Wi-Fi network.
- New Feature: Wi-Fi network availability awareness.
- New Feature: Introducing MetaFrost Mobile P2P protocol version 1
- New Feature: Setting to send Geo-Location information to other peers.
- New Feature: Displays distance to other peers if available.
- New Feature: Settings to Share/Unshare files by file type.
- New Feature: Users can be identified by nickname.
- New Feature: Community Chatroom over Wi-Fi.
- New Feature: Sends private chatroom message to another user.
- New Feature: "Copy & Share" your own files in the Community Chatroom to all
participants.
- New Feature: "Copy & Share" other user's files in the Community Chatroom to all
participants.
- New Feature: "Copy & Share" files with another user via Private Message.
- New Feature: Community Chatroom has 'history' support if user presses D-pad up or
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7. Introducing FrostWire for Android « 06/15/2010 file:///Users/gubatron/Desktop/PRESS%20RELEASE/frostwire...
down.
- New Feature: Community Chatroom has 'history' support if user gestures up or down
on the text field.
- New Feature: Community Chatroom messages can be cleaned with commands "/cls","
/clear" and "clear screen".
- New Feature: Browse, Filter, Open and Delete your own shared files.
- New Feature: Browse, Filter and Open other user's files.
- New Feature: Download other user's files when browsing.
- New Feature: Download shared files from chat.
- New Feature: Download multiple files at the same time.
- New Feature: Open downloaded files.
- New Feature: Context menues are available upon Long Click on almost every user
interface element.
- New Feature: Screen orientation awareness on every screen.
- New Feature: FrostWire Status bar indicates number of ongoing downloads.
- New Feature: Share picture files.
- New Feature: Share video files.
- New Feature: Share document files.
- New Feature: Share audio files.
- New Feature: Connect/Disconnect from local p2p network.
- New Feature: "Love FrostWire?" Tip/Donation support to development team.
- Pending Feature: Share application files (.apk)
Recommended Reading
London-wide Wi-Fi by 2012
Free WiFi Coming To All U.S. Starbucks Stores Beginning July 1
Teens and Mobile Phones
Internet Censorship in the People’s Republic of China
Internet Censorship in Iran
Venezuela President Chavez Makes Threat Against the Open Web
Creative Commons Photo credits
“Smartphones” by shareski.
“So many gadgets on the subway these days” by arvindgrover
“FrostWire-1137” by NanyNany
“google io 2009 conference” by MacQ
“Feast for the Senses” by Kevin H.
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