Auto-BAHN App still sends Messages when Cellular and the Internet Fails
i4u.com
i4u.com
The most reasonable solution I've seen for diaster communication is that implemented by the folks in Berkeley (and I'm sure adjoining towns as well .. don't recall details). They have (or are planning to) have sheds spread around the town that have HAM radios, manuals for emergency situation handling, even some fuel. The idea is that if a disaster occurs (i.e. the Big One), people in a neighbourhood can communicate with others via these sheds. I saw a prototype of this at an Intel Research Berkeley (RIP) open house a few years back. Now that was a decent idea!
How about "oppressive government threw the kill switch".
Or, "profit mongering telco under built facilities".
Peer-to-peer relay messaging is a good concept, but in any use case it will need to be ubiquitous (i.e. built into the OS) for it to be effective.