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Apple is trying to reinvent group audio chat with no cell or WiFi needed

Apple is developing technology that would allow any number of willing people in close proximity to start an audio chat, using only an iPhone and a headset like AirPods, with no WiFi or cell service needed.

Two figures with headsets, connected to wireless transceivers and communication modules. Arrows illustrate audio communication between them.
Using an iPhone and a headset, many people could talk with others nearby.

Instantaneous communication like the Walkie-Talkie feature on the Apple Watch would be possible but with groups of people instead of individuals.

Unlike the Walkie-Talkie feature, this new technology would eliminate the roundtrip to Apple’s cloud servers, a step that makes Walkie-Talkie unreliable at times. Also, unlike Walkie-Talkie, this would allow groups of willing people to talk to each other simultaneously.

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