2017 is becoming the year of the blockchain. Whether it’s the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance or the meteoric rise of cryptocurrencies, the blockchain is front and center for the action. When blockchain juggernaut Ethereum released their Byzantium Hard Fork last week, the message was loud and clear: the blockchain is open for business, and business it shall facilitate. Companies are clamoring to capitalize on this transformative moment, and this enthusiasm is rightly inspiring unique and novel solutions to some of our most obvious technological problems.

We live in a tech-savvy world. Images of busy city centers full of people busy on their devices is a ubiquitous expression of our modern culture. People are increasingly communicating with one another through communicative technologies. Globally, more than 75% of cell phone users send SMS messages, which is by far the most popular activity on cellular devices. This technological expression has come a long way since its inception in 1992 and the first SMS message “Merry Christmas” now shares a stage with trillions of other SMS messages sent each year. With the rise of texting came cell phone plans that accommodated customer demand by offering contracts that enable users to send loads of text messages for a low cost. Now, all of this seems fairly antiquated as unlimited SMS messaging is typically included in a cell phone plan, and much of the text messaging market has moved to applications iMessage, Messenger, and WhatsApp have accrued much of the messaging market.

Meanwhile, SMS continues to be an important component of communicative technology for businesses. Utilizing a process known as Application to Person (A2P), organizations are able to communicate directly with customers. ProcessFlows reports on this usage, writing, “There are so many ways to incorporate this feature…Real life applications include banking notifications, critical alerts, automatic booking confirmations and marketing notifications.” Use cases like two-factor authentication, appointment reminders, and security alerts have become some of the most critical interactions between companies and their customers.

The high integration rate of SMS messaging among customers and companies’ communication requirements have coalesced to create a unique opportunity for customers to retrieve value from their existing cellular plans. While messaging has diversified beyond just SMS messaging, many people continue to pay for SMS messaging as a part of their cellular plans, and thanks to SMSCHAIN, these messages can be parlayed into financial value for contract holders.

SMSCHAIN. A Blockchain Solution.

SMSCHAIN takes advantage of blockchain technology to develop a token that allows users to sell their unused or unlimited SMS messages to companies that are delivering A2P SMS to their customers. For users, this allows them to capitalize on a service that they are already paying for but which they are not actively fully utilizing. Moreover, for companies, it gives them access to increased messaging capabilities without the burden of costly infrastructure or the requirement of physical presence in a given country.

This is a profound solution that is implemented through a simple process. The blockchain is a decentralized ledger system that allows for the development of tokens which carry out the function of smart contracts and transactions. SMSCHAIN relies on side blockchains to ensure sufficient throughput of text messages. By relying on the blockchain, SMSCHAIN is decentralizing a system that once relied on significant infrastructure, centralized servers, and physical access. For users selling their SMS messages, it opens up a global marketplace that is simple, secure, and transparent.

For users, the possible monthly income is not small. According to estimates, the average user can earn $75 each month, while high use cases range from $150 to $6,000 each month. In an article espousing the importance of mobile, Wired reported that “Last year, the United Nations Human Rights Council declare that the internet was a basic human right.” With users annually paying hundreds of dollars for their smartphones, cell contracts, and accompanying expenses, this amount is a way to finance this essential access using resources that they are already paying for. Moreover, the A2P SMS market is projected to expand significantly through 2020, which presents a profound opportunity for users who begin embracing this market now.

The Process. Easier than you might think.

Users who want to capitalize on their unused SMS messages follow a simple process to begin doing so. A standard application process equips users with an account through which they can begin selling their unused SMS messages to aggregators who disperse them to companies looking for A2P capabilities. Users run the SMSCHAIN app in the background where it consumers negligible amounts of CPU, data, and electricity. When it’s running, the app will establish connections to the closest geographically-located nodes, which maintain the blockchain that powers SMSCHAIN. Aggregators initiate each transaction, and a billing contract is executed once an SMS message is sent and logged in the blockchain. For users, it’s a passive process that reaps tangible rewards. For companies seeking A2P SMS capabilities, they are provided with a marketplace through which they can acquire SMS messages without incurring prohibitive costs, sizable infrastructure, or extensive personnel. SMSCHAIN has created a win-win scenario in which customer and companies are able to derive value from systems that are already in place.

The right time for the right solution.

Communication is more important now than ever, and we are increasingly relying on our devices to facilitate that communication. Whether we are communicating with family, coworkers, or companies, the active dialogue that we enjoy makes us happier, more informed, and more capable people. In many ways, we’ve moved away from SMS messaging as the primary tool in our communication tool belt. However, since we are still paying for this capability, there is an opportunity to capitalize on that service. By participating in the SMSCHAIN ecosystem, customers can generate passive income from their existing devices and cellular contracts. This is good for users and businesses. This is good for everyone. The blockchain is bringing new possibilities to nearly every aspect of our world, and SMSCHAIN is playing a part in the process by developing a blockchain-based application that allows users to capitalize on the SMS messages that they are already purchasing and that provides SMS capabilities to companies desperately seeking that capacity.