The
BundesMessenger
community
Our community
BundesMessenger is a living project
BundesMessenger is a living project – carried by a growing community of developers, administrators and users. Those who get involved not only help with technical development, but actively shape how tomorrow’s public administration communicates today.
BundesMessenger in your region
These organisations are already using BundesMessenger.
This is an overview of all BundesMessenger user organisations that have agreed to publication in the federation directory. If you are interested in a federation, contact details can be requested via our form.
Answers to frequently asked questions
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In addition to permanent end-to-end encryption during communication, the platform offers an integrated virus scanner that automatically checks received attachments for malware. This provides extra security on mobile clients.
After security comes usability: the interface and operation match modern messengers. Text and voice messages, attachments, images and videos can be shared in private chats as well as in public and closed groups. Polls and votes enable teams to make simple, fast and joint decisions. And thanks to the solution’s architecture, even non-official hardware can be used for secure official communication (bring your own device).
BWI takes care of maintaining and further developing the overall system behind the app and provides monthly updates for BundesMessenger. Because the respective authorities operate the solution on their own servers, all data is protected from unauthorized access or unintended leakage.
Complete data sovereignty is the core promise of BundesMessenger. Data stays where it belongs: on your own infrastructure. Whether that is the authority’s own data center or a commissioned German provider – the organizations decide for themselves. Neither we nor any third parties have access to messages, attachments or metadata.
Old chat histories cannot be transferred 1:1 – that may sound inconvenient at first, but from a data protection perspective it is the cleaner approach. User accounts can be imported from existing directory services, so no one has to create hundreds of accounts manually. With a structured approach – pilot group, parallel operation, step-by-step migration – the switch is sure to succeed.
Like BwMessenger, BundesMessenger is based on the open-source software Element (Matrix). From an authority’s perspective, an open solution offers a whole range of advantages: BundesMessenger, for example, is 100 percent transparent because the source code can be inspected. Covert reading or harvesting of data by a manufacturer is therefore ruled out. Open source also scores on cost: while many solutions on the market use per-user licensing, meaning costs arise per user, BundesMessenger comes with an open-source license. Authorities only incur costs for operating their own backend. BWI provides the app free of charge in the Apple and Android app stores and delivers monthly updates that authorities can use automatically and likewise free of charge.
The solution is provided by BWI but must be operated by the using authorities themselves. There is therefore no central support; operators must ensure it themselves. But of course there is general support from the open-source community, in which BWI also participates.
The app is available for free download in the Apple and Android app stores. Important note: to use the app, BundesMessenger must already be operated by your authority. Otherwise, login is not possible.
To give authorities that cannot ensure operation in their own data center and user support access to BundesMessenger, T-Systems International GmbH offers a “software as a service” (SaaS) model.
With this concession model, BWI has responded to the high demand: it has received more than 250 inquiries about BundesMessenger from public administration to date.
Yes, and that is precisely one of BundesMessenger’s big advantages: two authorities with their own instances can communicate directly with each other without either side giving up its infrastructure or having to create guest accounts. Federations can be configured individually.
Our BundesMessenger team is happy to help!
Simply write us a message and contact us by email: bundesmessenger@bwi.de
BWI developed BwMessenger specifically for the Bundeswehr, so it can only be used by its members. However, the requirements for security, quality and stability of a messaging solution are quite similar in the government environment, as are the usage scenarios. That is why BWI further developed the Bundeswehr’s messaging platform under the name “BundesMessenger” as a reusable solution for public administration.
Bundeswehr members can register via the IntranetBw. For this you need an active personnel number or an IAMBw entry, plus the support of your responsible “S6” or pool administrator.
Currently, anyone with an active personnel number in the Bundeswehr IT system or an IAMBw entry can use the messenger. For reservists, this is currently only the case when they are on exercises.
You can reset your account password via the self-service portal in the IntranetBw. You can recreate your recovery key via the app during the login process.