[csomar]

I can see a chicken-egg problem here. Without enough users (probably millions), this device is useless. If the device is useless now, it makes no sense to purchase it. The pricing doesn't help either: $249! (and $399 after pre-sale).

Assuming 10 million a good number to kickstart this thing and make it useful in many locations, they'll need to make a few billion dollars sales in the next couple years.

[ryanberg]

From what I see, this isn't about creating a mesh network for many users, its about enabling communication with your friends or co-workers in places where there isn't network access. So in that sense, there is no chicken-egg problem. I was just wishing for something like this when skiing in Whistler last weekend so I could communicate with my friends without using int'l data/roaming.

[baldfat]

If it replaces walkie talkies in rural areas you only need your friends to have them. I know in the Adirondack Mountains in NY has very spotty signal and would be great with a few friends. Currently we use walkie talkies that have a 23 mile range. They cost as a pair $43 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UE6MIO/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_d...) and they are single purpose and really don't need to worry about battery life.

[adekok]

Hmm... $43 for a 23 mile range, or $249 for a 2 mile range.

Sometimes improved technology isn't the right solution.

[nmcfarl]

I don’t know about the 2 mi range - but the 23 mi range is in best possible conditions, line of sight from mountain top to valley. Those same walkie talkies advertise a 1 mi range in a "Neighborhood"

[baldfat]

They are much farther then line of sight. I certainly get two miles in heavy forests and other side of hill. These work great for groups hiking and climbing.

http://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2006/07/the_truth_about_...

[lepht]

From your link:

> The range that a two-way radio advertises is the range that the radio should get in "ideal" conditions. Ideal conditions are line of sight, such as from a mountaintop to a valley below -- no interference at all.

> So what type of range can you expect from your radio? Usually half a mile up to two miles

[baldfat]

As I said I get about 2 miles

[oasisbob]

Don't forget about the $65 licensing fee to operate the GMRS radios legally, which can only be used by the applicant and their immediate family:

https://www.fcc.gov/general/general-mobile-radio-service-gmr...

[baldfat]

FRS = free the GMRS is not on by default and has to be programmed into the unit.

[oasisbob]

You're not going to get 23 miles or anything close to it with the FRS 500mW.

[olympus]

Compare the price to the previously existing Garmin Rhino, which shares GPS data among receivers and allows non-encrypted comms (privacy codes are to reduce interference/crosstalk and aren't really encryption). Garmin Rhinos cost ~$500 each, so if you can get a pair of these modules for $250 you are saving a ton of money considering the phone is something you already own.

[debacle]

Could seed metro networks with hubs. The need for additional hubs would grow with the number of users, which are in themselves hubs. You could cover most of NYC for a few thousand dollars a month and see adoption grow.

[tetrep]

Yeah, the promise of "do things when you don't have signal" is predicated on a chain of people with these devices existing all the way from where you are to where a cell phone signal is. Which means you need to go to popular outdoorsy places, which (IMO) are intrinsically less interesting due to being around other people.

[ricardobeat]

That would be nice, but is not what it does. It only enables communication between nearby devices (which includes gps location sharing), not mesh networking.