FAQ
Quick answers about MeshMack — hyper-local chat for people who are actually here. Tagline: stay local. A product of O’Reilly Systems.
What is MeshMack?
MeshMack is hyper-local, peer-to-peer chat for people on your block, campus, bar, or event. Messages stay in the neighborhood on the phones that meet, not on a central MeshMack chat server.
How does Nearby work?
Nearby finds other MeshMack users around you using local radios on your phone. People appear with path badges:
- Same Wi‑Fi — you share a network; this is the primary reliable chat path today.
- Direct peer — Wi‑Fi Aware mesh when the path is up (works best same platform today).
- Nearby (Bluetooth) — presence so you can see someone; Bluetooth is not used to carry chat messages.
You generally need Nearby on, permissions allowed, and at least one workable path for chat (usually Same Wi‑Fi).
Do I need an account?
No. MeshMack does not require a MeshMack cloud account to chat. You create a local username and identity keys on your phone.
Where are my chats stored?
On your device (and on the devices of people you chat with). We do not operate a central chat server and do not receive conversation contents. History is kept in a recent window on-device by design — not an infinite cloud archive.
Is chat end-to-end encrypted?
Direct messages are designed to be end-to-end encrypted on the phones that meet. Combined with no central chat backend, we don’t host a readable copy of your DMs. We don’t claim mythical “unbreakable” security here.
What’s the difference between Same Wi‑Fi, Direct peer, and Bluetooth?
| Badge | What it means | Chat? |
|---|---|---|
| Same Wi‑Fi | Shared Wi‑Fi / hotspot | Yes — best everyday path |
| Direct peer | Wi‑Fi Aware | Yes when the path is up; strongest same-OS for now |
| Nearby (Bluetooth) | Presence only | No |
Android ↔ iPhone: expect presence + Same Wi‑Fi chat; don’t expect perfect Direct peer across those platforms yet.
What are Places?
Places are spots you save. Inside a Place, MeshMack can auto-listen for people nearby. Outside, it stays quiet. You can also choose Just this visit without saving. Location for Places stays on-device.
What are Friends and the Friend circle?
Friends are people you mark locally. Friend circle posts fan out outbound only to your in-scope friends when they’re reachable — not a server social graph and not one shared group log. Someone can write into your circle view if they friended you; they only get your circle posts if you add them too.
Does MeshMack work offline / without internet?
Discovery and chat are built around local paths (Wi‑Fi / peer radios), not a cloud inbox. You do not need MeshMack servers to exchange messages with someone nearby. You may still need whatever the phone OS needs for Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or store purchases. No internet ≠ guaranteed chat with someone who isn’t reachable on a local path.
Which phones are supported?
MeshMack is built for iPhone and Android. Physical devices work best. Direct peer needs capable hardware/OS for Wi‑Fi Aware; older phones can still use Same Wi‑Fi + Bluetooth presence.
What is Supporter?
An optional one-time in-app thank-you. Core discovery and chat stay free. Supporter does not buy ranking, extra peer limits, or encryption. Cosmetic perks (such as path accents) may appear after purchase/restore via Apple or Google.
Is MeshMack for kids? How do you handle safety?
MeshMack is not directed at children under 13. You must be at least 13 (or older if your region requires). Use Block / Report + Block on-device. For safety concerns we can help with, contact info@oreillysystems.com. We cannot recall messages from other people’s phones. We don’t run a centralized live-chat moderation feed of your conversations.
Who makes MeshMack?
O’Reilly Systems Corporation. Quiet credit: “A product of O’Reilly Systems.”
When is MeshMack coming to the App Store and Google Play?
Public App Store and Google Play listings will appear on this site when they go live under O’Reilly Systems. There is no waitlist or request-access form. Questions: info@oreillysystems.com.
Can I use MeshMack instead of neighborhood feeds or emergency mesh apps?
MeshMack is for presence and chat with people who are actually here. It is not a neighborhood feed, marketplace, or crisis/offline emergency network. Keep those tools if you need them — MeshMack solves a different job.
How do I contact support?
Email info@oreillysystems.com. For connection bugs, include devices/OS, same Wi‑Fi yes/no, Bluetooth state, app version, and the Mesh diagnostics interop report. More: meshmack.com/support.
How do I delete my data?
Uninstall MeshMack to remove local data on that device. There is no MeshMack cloud chat archive to delete on our side. Other people’s phones may still hold messages you already sent. Privacy summary: meshmack.com/privacy.
Why do you need Location / Bluetooth / Local network?
- Location — Places, map, and nearby discovery on this device (not uploaded to O’Reilly Systems servers).
- Bluetooth — presence only (who’s around), not chat pairing.
- Local network / nearby Wi‑Fi — Same Wi‑Fi and Direct peer chat.
Contacts are read only if you choose “Fill from my Contacts” for your own card — we don’t upload address books.