diff --git a/webxdc.d.ts b/webxdc.d.ts
index e5d4ef8..fa7c2a2 100644
--- a/webxdc.d.ts
+++ b/webxdc.d.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,25 @@ type SendOptions =
       text: string;
     };
 
+/**
+ * A listener for realtime data.
+ */
+export class RealtimeListener {
+  private listener: (data: Uint8Array) => void
+  private trashed: boolean
+
+  /* Whether the realtime channel was left */
+  is_trashed(): boolean
+  /* Receive data from the realtime channel */
+  receive(data: Uint8Array): void
+  /* Set a listener for the realtime channel */
+  setListener(listener: (data: Uint8Array) => void): void
+  /* Send data over the realtime channel */
+  send(data: Uint8Array): void
+  /* Leave the realtime channel */
+  leave(): void
+}
+
 interface Webxdc<T> {
   /** Returns the peer's own address.
    *  This is esp. useful if you want to differ between different peers - just send the address along with the payload,
@@ -82,6 +101,12 @@ interface Webxdc<T> {
     cb: (statusUpdate: ReceivedStatusUpdate<T>) => void,
     serial?: number
   ): Promise<void>;
+
+  /**
+   * Join a realtime channel.
+   */
+  joinRealtimeChannel(): RealtimeListener;
+
   /**
    * @deprecated See {@link setUpdateListener|`setUpdateListener()`}.
    */
diff --git a/webxdc.js b/webxdc.js
index 8f68150..8fb5ee7 100644
--- a/webxdc.js
+++ b/webxdc.js
@@ -4,12 +4,59 @@
 // browsers. In an actual webxdc environment (e.g. Delta Chat messenger) this
 // file is not used and will automatically be replaced with a real one.
 // See https://docs.webxdc.org/spec.html#webxdc-api
+let ephemeralUpdateKey = "__xdcEphemeralUpdateKey__";
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {import('./webxdc.d.ts').RealtimeListener} RT
+ * @type {RT}
+ */
+class RealtimeListener {
+  constructor() {
+    this.listener = null;
+    this.trashed = false;
+  }
+
+  is_trashed() {
+    return this.trashed;
+  }
+
+  receive(data) {
+    if (this.trashed) {
+      throw new Error("realtime listener is trashed and can no longer be used");
+    }
+    if (this.listener) {
+      this.listener(data);
+    }
+  }
+
+  setListener(listener) {
+    this.listener = listener;
+  }
+
+  send(data) {
+    if (!data instanceof Uint8Array) {
+      throw new Error("realtime listener data must be a Uint8Array");
+    }
+    window.localStorage.setItem(
+      ephemeralUpdateKey,
+      JSON.stringify([window.webxdc.selfAddr, Array.from(data), Date.now()]) // Date.now() is needed to trigger the event
+    );
+  }
+
+  leave() {
+    this.trashed = true;
+  }
+}
 
 // debug friend: document.writeln(JSON.stringify(value));
 //@ts-check
 /** @type {import('./webxdc').Webxdc<any>} */
 window.webxdc = (() => {
   var updateListener = (_) => {};
+  /**
+   * @type {RT | null}
+   */
+  var realtimeListener = null;
   var updatesKey = "__xdcUpdatesKey__";
   window.addEventListener("storage", (event) => {
     if (event.key == null) {
@@ -20,6 +67,11 @@ window.webxdc = (() => {
       update.max_serial = updates.length;
       console.log("[Webxdc] " + JSON.stringify(update));
       updateListener(update);
+    } else if (event.key === ephemeralUpdateKey) {
+      var [sender, update] = JSON.parse(event.newValue);
+      if (window.webxdc.selfAddr !== sender && realtimeListener && !realtimeListener.is_trashed()) {
+        realtimeListener.receive( Uint8Array.from(update));
+      }
     }
   });
 
@@ -44,6 +96,15 @@ window.webxdc = (() => {
       updateListener = cb;
       return Promise.resolve();
     },
+    joinRealtimeChannel: (cb) => {
+      if (realtimeListener && realtimeListener.is_trashed()) {
+        return;
+      }
+      rt = new RealtimeListener();
+      // mimic connection establishment time
+      setTimeout(() => realtimeListener = rt, 500);
+      return rt;
+    },
     getAllUpdates: () => {
       console.log("[Webxdc] WARNING: getAllUpdates() is deprecated.");
       return Promise.resolve([]);
@@ -245,8 +306,8 @@ window.alterXdcApp = () => {
         root.innerHTML =
           '<img src="' + name + '" style="' + styleAppIcon + '">';
         controlPanel.insertBefore(root.firstChild, controlPanel.childNodes[1]);
-        
-        var pageIcon = document.createElement('link');
+
+        var pageIcon = document.createElement("link");
         pageIcon.rel = "icon";
         pageIcon.href = name;
         document.head.append(pageIcon);