What Exactly is Communication Without a Network?

Certain wireless intercoms are designated for private network communications, such as those used by public safety, military, and firefighting units on exclusive frequency bands. Others, used by the public (like hotel and security staff), share crowded public frequency bands.

Bluetooth also uses the same unlicensed frequency band as Wi-Fi, making it susceptible to interference.

Networked communication, particularly cellular mobile networks, offers substantial network capacity advantages. Its centralized structure allows many devices to connect quickly to Internet nodes and data centers, making it ideal for Internet-based applications. This advantage has solidified networked communication as today’s most widely used communication method.

1. Simplicity and Flexibility: Network-free communication allows for straightforward, point-to-point interaction between two devices when they are in close proximity. This decentralization effectively meets fundamental communication needs.
2. Independence from Network Infrastructure: Communication can occur without relying on the Internet or third-party network equipment in remote areas or during disasters.
3. Cost Efficiency: It does not consume mobile data, making it a low-cost alternative.
4. Enhanced Privacy: As it operates independently of public networks, network-free communication offers better privacy for users.

It’s important to understand that offline communication is not meant to replace networked communication; rather, it serves as a supplementary option in specific scenarios.

Specific Usage Scenarios of Network-Free Communication:

Here are a few examples of when network-free communication is particularly beneficial:

1. Underground Garages: In areas where base station signals are absent, such as underground parking, wireless communication can help you contact friends or locate your vehicle.
2. Outdoor Adventures: Network-free communication allows teammates to maintain basic communication while exploring remote locations like deserts, forests, or snowy mountains—where base station signals are unavailable. (Note: Satellite communication, while more expensive, is better suited for emergency contact with the outside world.)
3. Natural Disasters: During events like earthquakes, when base station signals are often disrupted, wireless communication can be critical for rescue operations. Unlike satellite communication, which may be inaccessible for those trapped, wireless options can connect to nearby rescuers.
4. International Travel: While abroad, you can use network-free communication to stay in touch with family and friends without incurring roaming charges or additional fees.
5. Regional Social Interaction: This mode of communication enables users within a specific area to connect socially, fostering a local network. Intercom-style calls can also enhance user engagement and interaction.

1. Market Differentiation: In a fiercely competitive landscape, manufacturers seek unique advantages. With advancements in screens, cameras, and SoC chips reaching saturation, finding new “points of differentiation” is crucial.
2. Emerging Use Cases: As previously mentioned, there is a growing demand for short- to medium-distance point-to-point communication. These scenarios are becoming increasingly common, making developing such features necessary and practical in pursuit of ubiquitous communication.
3. Technological Exploration: This is arguably the most critical aspect. Traditional Bluetooth technology has not seen significant breakthroughs in a long time and often fails to meet user demands regarding communication distance, bandwidth, and power consumption.

In recent years, terminal manufacturers have intensified their involvement in global public technology standards and have increased their investment in developing private protocols.

Network communications like 5G and Wi-Fi are based on public standard protocols, which promote industry chain unity. However, these standards are predominantly controlled by a handful of large companies (primarily operators and equipment manufacturers), leaving terminal manufacturers with limited influence. Additionally, standards such as Bluetooth are complex and involve numerous interests, making them difficult to alter.

Consequently, terminal manufacturers are focusing on developing private protocols. A prime example is not a mobile phone but DJI’s drones. These drones utilize point-to-point communication between the control terminal (the remote) and the drone without relying on a network. Due to the limitations of traditional technology in meeting the demands for remote control and image transmission, DJI opted to create its private protocol, extending control distances to an impressive 10 kilometers or more.

This year, DJI introduced the new DJI SDR image transmission technology, built on software-defined radio (SDR) principles, featuring dual-standard image transmission capabilities. This technology supports 1080p/60fps transmission specifications, achieves bit rates of up to 20 Mbps, maintains a latency as low as 35 milliseconds, and allows for image transmission distances of up to 3 kilometers.

On the mobile terminal side, developing private protocols serves two purposes: to address the shortcomings of existing technologies and to enhance the interconnectivity between a manufacturer’s products.

Mobile phone manufacturers typically launch a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches. Consequently, private protocols can also facilitate linking and screen projection among these devices.

Traditional technologies, particularly Bluetooth, still have significant room for improvement in terms of performance.

This highlights the imperfection of existing mainstream technical standards. Their resistance to replacement stems from their status as established global standards that require broad support from manufacturers.

Recent wireless communication innovations from mobile phone manufacturers are generally enhancements based on Bluetooth or new technologies similar to it. These advancements utilize the existing radio hardware in mobile phones while employing specialized protocols and algorithms.

For instance, Vivo’s wireless communication technology combines Bluetooth with LoRa spread spectrum technology, enabling the vivo X200 series to achieve wireless communication over distances of up to 1,500 meters. This technology supports SOS text broadcasting, one-to-one voice and text intercom, and map location display.

OPPO’s network-free communication technology, called MeshTalk, allows for text and voice transmission, including voice calls, within a range of 3,000 meters without cellular networks, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. MeshTalk can support multiple devices in a mesh network configuration, facilitating group chats.

Xiaomi’s recently launched Xingchen communication system claims to be the first in the industry to support kilometer-level network-free calling, enabling two-way calls within a radius of 3.5 kilometers without a network. Xiaomi’s network-free communication also supports mesh networking.

These network-free communication technologies are based on proprietary private protocols, requiring support from terminals of the same brand, and currently, only select devices are compatible with them.