63

I want to use 2 (or more) android phones as walkie-talkie (i.e. they talk each other without needing internet/voice call).

Of course this should work with WiFi, because it doesn't make much sense a to have Bluetooth or USB connection for this application.

Improve this question
11
  • 19
    It does not. If I establish an ad-hoc connection between two android phones, I'm using wifi but not internet.
    – michelemarcon
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 12:49
  • 4
    Kind of tangental: wouldn't you then be close enough to just talk to each other? I guess you might be separated by a wall or something, but the range of an ad-hoc network probably isn't going to be too large...
    – eldarerathis
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 13:06
  • 5
    @michel: but if you're under the same wifi, then you're not using an ad-hoc connection between the two phones, but rather relying on a third party. Besides, as far as the phone is concerned, there's no difference between ad-hoc and other wifi. Either way you're using TCP/IP over wifi. The only difference is that your connectivity suffers.
    – Nathan Fellman
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 13:43
  • 6
    @Nathan: Yes, but again: wifi!=internet and wifi range may cover large areas, therefore my question is interesting.
    – michelemarcon
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 13:56
  • 4
    @Mattew The real problem is talking WITHOUT cordless/landline and WITHOUT internet. What if someone is confined within one room and need to talk outside? What if internet is down/unavailable/expensive? What if I OWN my wifi and don't want to relay on internet? What if I don't want my voice data to go over untrusted network?... I hope my point is clear.
    – michelemarcon
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 7:34

8 Answers 8

Reset to default
22

Here is what I use that do not need an internet connection:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidintercom

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.remaller.android.wifitalkie_lite

Improve this answer
21

The project mentioned by BobFlemming is the Serval project, and they are also on twitter. The android application will be available soon apparently.

Thought I'd mention because not entirely straightforward to find it through the youtube link and that the twitter account isn't advertised on the site. Also I cannot +1 or comment yet so adding it as a reply.

Improve this answer
11

Its been tested by a group here:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/01/researchers-enable-mesh-wifi-networking-for-android-smartphones.ars

So it is possible.

Improve this answer
8

The previously mentioned serval project now has an android app available - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.servalproject

Improve this answer
2
5

here is a project on sourceforge , please refer whether it help your need or not.. just link here,

http://android-ptt.sourceforge.net/

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    Seems to have died before it really took off.
    – Jan Hudec
    Commented Apr 24, 2013 at 6:53
1

I just started using the WiFi Walkie Talkie app. It doesn't have much in the way of flash, but it works extremely simply.

As a bonus, it is open-source and ad-free.

Improve this answer
1
  • "or create a mobile access point on one device and connect all other devices to this access point."
    – endolith
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 3:48
0

Wifi Walkie Talkies is a free app I found. I use it round the house and garden to talk to the wife and kids.

It doesn't use any of your data, call or text allowance, it just works on your home/office wifi. No need to configure anything it just works.. Test on and Android and Backberry Z10.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Does this work without an internet connection? Your answer (and the app description) doesn't specify if it works with ad-hoc connections or if it requires full internet access.
    – Stephen S
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 19:00
  • I thought you were referencing the Wifi Walkie Talkie app, and upvoted for that app, which just works. But, this post promotes a different app.
    – palswim
    Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 6:58
-2

There are many push to talk apps on the Marketplace, but they all required an Internet connection. As far as I know, Android doesn't support ad-hoc WiFi connections.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Android doesn't support ad-hoc WiFi connections without rooting (the only thing that prevents it is explicit check in the system library, so rooted phones and custom ROMs like CyanogenMod support it), but you can build an ad-hoc network from managed connections too and Android supports becoming AP.
    – Jan Hudec
    Commented Apr 24, 2013 at 6:51

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .