Wire is a comprehensive and secure communication and collaboration platform designed to meet the needs of individuals, teams, and organizations. Here’s an overview of what the product does and its key features:
What Wire Does
Wire is an encrypted communication and collaboration suite that offers a range of tools to facilitate secure and efficient communication. It is developed by Wire Swiss and is available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers.
Key Features and Functionality
Secure Communication
- Wire provides end-to-end encrypted messaging, ensuring that only the sender and the recipient can access the messages. This encryption extends to all forms of communication, including voice and video calls, file sharing, and group conversations.
Collaboration Tools
- The platform supports group calling with up to 25 participants and video conferences with up to 12 people. It also features a “virtual space” stereo function that allows users to differentiate voice directionality, enhancing the conference call experience.
File Sharing and Management
- Users can share files, manage who has access to these files, and control file rights to ensure that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized individuals. This includes features like file rights management and secure document sharing.
Guest Rooms and External Collaboration
- Wire allows for secure external collaboration through “guest rooms,” where external parties can join conversations without needing to register or download the app. Guests have limited access rights and temporary conversation data.
Ephemeral Messaging
- Wire offers ephemeral messaging for both one-on-one and group conversations, allowing messages to be set to disappear after a specified time.
Screen Sharing and Conferencing Essentials
- The platform supports screen sharing, sending files and messages during calls, and toggling between external hardware. Moderation tools are also available to keep conference calls focused.
Device and Identity Verification
- Wire includes automatic device verification through an ID shield, ensuring that users communicate with the intended recipients. This is handled through a certificate process.
Multi-Device Support
- Users can use Wire on up to 8 devices and manage up to 3 different Wire accounts on a single device without needing to log in and out. The intuitive UI helps in prioritizing conversations and managing notifications.
Compliance and Federation
- Wire supports federation, allowing separate Wire backends to interact as if they were on the same backend. This is available for both on-premises and cloud environments, helping in managing compliance processes and restricting user interactions.
Technical Security
- Wire’s communication is protected by advanced security protocols, including Proteus for instant messages, DTLS and SRTP for voice calls, and Transport Layer Security (TLS) for client-server communication. The platform is also working on integrating Messaging Layer Security (MLS) for enhanced enterprise messaging security.
In summary, Wire is a robust and secure communication platform that offers a wide range of features to enhance productivity, ensure confidentiality, and facilitate seamless collaboration within and outside organizations.