P2P uChat App Launches in Beta Along with uTorrent 3.0

Along with the long-awaited, uTorrent 3.0, BitTorrent the company behind the popular client, has also released uChat an interesting new app still in beta which, as the name implies, enables users to chat within uTorrent by using a distributed, P2P architecture.

The interesting thing about is the technology behind uChat, other than that it's something that's been around since the web's prehistoric ages.

"Today we released an exciting new beta app for µTorrent and BitTorrent Chrysalis users called µChat. µChat enables real-time chat with other BitTorrent users around the world, directly within your software," BitTorrent announced.

"µChat is an optional app, available for installation at a user’s convenience in the App Studio or in the client under Find Content. It’s based on new patent-pending technology/methodology with a completely distributed architecture, meaning no servers are required," it added.

"Both chat sessions and friend lists/connections are distributed, offering users a new way to communicate in a dedicated environment," the announcement continued.

The new uChat app comes with several main features. There are general chat rooms, that anyone can join, though at this point there is a maximum user limit to see how it scales before the stable release.

Users can also engage in private conversations and also maintain a list of friends. All of this happens within the BitTorrent network, there are no servers to speak of, everything is created and run by the users and the BitTorrent clients running on their computers.

Of course, technological curiosities aside, uChat will have a tough time finding an audience. BitTorrent says that the app enables users to seek help for the application or the BitTorrent world in general from other users, or advanced users can share knowledge with each other.

It could also be used as a way for artists using BitTorrent to share their creations to engage with their fans and maintain a conversation with the community. Time will tell if users really did need another chat app, though.