Bitcoin Transfer through Cell Phones Possible ?

[Detritus]

African's are sending #bitcoin peer to peer WITHOUT internet using feature phones 🙌

   WRONG!!
Indirectly, end users doesn't require internet connection to carryout the transaction, they only need to initiate the process while the service provider of that voucher are  responsible for completing the transaction after the instructions has been initiated by the end users. The service providers require  the use of internet to process the transaction so that it would be recorded on the Bitcoin Blockchain.

Question: I think I must have seen this somewhere but not sure if I had a good look, ( Can't recall ) How can this be ?? Like how can  one carry out such transactions. ?? Guide Any ?!

   For example, this method is just like the MTN VTU (virtual top up) that allows users send airtime to their friends without internet connection. the VTU service providers uses internet connection to complete the transaction and that's exactly with the case of this new means of mobile Bitcoin adoption that seems not to require internet by the end user.

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[Wiwo]

This is a great innovation but a lot is required to get it to work 100%/ as I have read all the technicalities involved to carry out this transaction, this is a long-term project and the guy championing this project will need to go an extra mile to get the network fully set up and transaction convertible from online to the offline network using the cellular network. And kind of curious to see how this will work especially when we.are.at.the early stage of.LN network adoption and most Bitcoin transactions are done using the Internet because the wallet needs to be online to send the transaction to blockchain.

[Questat]

Bitcoin transfer needs internet that was the fact. Of course, the use of a cellphone is possible. There are a lot of Bitcoin applications available in play store for phone and already used by some individuals but yes, I really don't think it was safe knowing that phones have low security due to easy attacks and many application installed that contains malware. This option is not advisable especially if we plan to hold BTC and make this as a storing wallet.

[BitcoinPanther]

This whole process isn't possible without a third party service, right? They make a fool of us into believing that bitcoin transaction can be sent without the use of the internet lol.  So I think this is just another marketing strategy of some company in order to lure bitcoin users to use their platform.  I find this kind of service a bit tedious since we need an extra effort to send Bitcoin while it is just as easy like 123 when using or sending it the normal way.

[kamvreto]

Bitcoin transfer needs internet that was the fact. Of course, the use of a cellphone is possible. There are a lot of Bitcoin applications available in play store for phone and already used by some individuals but yes, I really don't think it was safe knowing that phones have low security due to easy attacks and many application installed that contains malware. This option is not advisable especially if we plan to hold BTC and make this as a storing wallet.

in fact it is, all need the internet to do so. on the types of transactions that use SMS such as bitcoin transfers described by the OP. maybe the same as buying pulses. We only need to send an SMS with a certain code to be executed by the server in charge of the system. but the vulnerability for SMS scamming will indeed be greater. if a feature like bitcoin transfer via SMS like this is possible and is really needed when the internet isn't there, I think it needs to get more serious development. but now the internet has reached all over the world, even internet like StarLink will support all corners of the world.

[Leviathan.007]

This can be possible to transfer the bitcoin through SMS or other services instead of the internet but still, we will need an alternative for the internet to send the transaction details to the blockchain otherwise the transactions can be in another network and this network can be synced to the bitcoin network whenever the internet connection is available which is still not a good idea because the transaction details can be changed during this time, but regardless of these transferring bitcoins like this can be very much useful for many situations when the internet is not available for people.

[Charles-Tim]

This can be possible to transfer the bitcoin through SMS or other services instead of the internet but still, we will need an alternative for the internet to send the transaction details to the blockchain otherwise the transactions can be in another network and this network can be synced to the bitcoin network whenever the internet connection is available which is still not a good idea because the transaction details can be changed during this time, but regardless of these transferring bitcoins like this can be very much useful for many situations when the internet is not available for people.

Exactly, not a good idea, not a good option. What comes my mind is how sms authentication has been successfully manipulated in the paste by hackers, it is possible that sending bitcoin through sms can be that bad through sim swap or related attacks. The best option is to just use the internet and never depend on any third party which are making use of sms that will still depends on the internet to make the transaction valid on bitcoin blockchain.

[Raflesia]

This has been discussed a lot in the previous thread and even though we can still do something like that but the context is still the same because it still requires some kind of network there.
On the other hand, when talking about this I agree with what @Rruchi Man said because in this case the risk of fraud will obviously increase because indeed we will also find it a little difficult to check whether transactions are done correctly or not when we are not within the reach of the internet.

[Agbe]

African's are sending #bitcoin peer to peer WITHOUT internet using feature phones 🙌

Bitcoin can not be send through SMS, message or text even ussd can not send BTC because bitcoin uses blockchain which is it has nodes that connect system for the transaction of bitcoin. If bitcoin uses text message to send or for transaction, bitcoin will be controlled by the national Authorities because through the service providers national Authorities will cut or deduct fees from users which means users have to pay two service for one transaction.One fee will be on the blockchain/nodes transaction while the other fee will be on the SMS text which will be deducting by the service providers. Therefore, I do not think that will be possible in Africa. And as it is said, scammers will send fake text and claiming to be original because there is no way for one to verify it mostly for the countries that have no ATM machine. If there is a ATM machine as the person sent it. You can use your ATM card to check to know if it is inside. Therefore fraud will be promoted.

[Nrcewker]

I read a news similar to this some weeks ago on Cointelegraph:

Bitcoin without internet: SMS service allows sending BTC with a text

An innovation using the cellular network (GSM) could onboard millions of Bitcoin (BTC) users previously unreachable by the internet-dependent Bitcoin protocol. Built by South African developer Kgothatso Ngako, the new SMS-based service is named Machankura, a slang South African word for money.

But no matter what these would be, there would be a third party involved that will help the users to connect to the internet, the bitcoin blockchain is online and needs internet access.

I guess it’s not safe also.
As third party is involved so you might not have complete access on Bitcoins that you should have.
Also I won’t recommend anyone to transact larger amount using this feature. If you are capable of holding these precious Bitcoins, then why can’t you have internet? If you are anywhere out of range, then you should wait till you get the internet connection back to do the transaction.
We can send Bitcoins without internet and it’s a feature of Bitcoins, but yes we should not use this in whole stable mind.

[minime0105]

Correct me if I’m wrong but this kind of Bitcoin transaction is just like an IOU since it’s not recorded on blockchain. I’m not totally familiar on this kind of method but I preferred transaction being recorded on blockchain to be valid for my personal preference. I believe this kind of transaction are prone to fraud and scam because it can be easily use to persuade person that has no knowledge on this kind of transaction.

That make up of cryptocurrency transfer is not something that everyone can do maybe when looking at that cellphone I will see that it might be configured with any of Bitcoin ATM machine code because such kind of cell phone is not the phone that we know someone can use transfer bitcoin to somebody if I should be asked in what way will it be bitcoin wallet address appear and where can you copy it and depressed I'm extremely confused concerning using such kind of cell phone to transfer cryptocurrency especially bitcoin to another wallet

[Rufsilf]

It was great to hear BTC transactions can be made offline but that was not the real scenario - it still needs the internet to process. It is only the message confirming the completion of the transactions but not literally we use to make a transfer without internet because that was impossible. And if we are thinking that the use of phones to do this is quite possible but be sure it was connected to the internet and mind also the vulnerability for the hacking. This is just an option but not should be done always.

[FanEagle]

I mean SMS is still possible right? You can definitely send each other Bitcoin via SMS and yet if you cannot really use it then what's the point? Meaning if you can get paid via SMS from someone near you, and then you go ahead and meet someone else and pay them via SMS with bitcoin as well then this works. But that will have to go online and see on your wallet and move to Binance type of thing eventually.

You cannot just end up getting to a point where we can't really keep it all in SMS forever, that wouldn't be healthy and it would cause a lot of trouble for all of us. This is why I believe that we should focus on online payments and moves, much easier and secure.

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I also don't think it could be possible via only mobile sms . For bitcoin transaction need of internet is obvious. But it could be possible that way where a central server will manage the whole thing  who will always connected to internet. But I think this way the decentralization process can not be done.

[samuraijin]

Shipping is full of risks, I don't want to take the risk, but I've heard of this problem, but what I know is that using a cellphone is only for storing secret keys and security, to keep it safe from being hacked, correct me if I'm wrong..

[Wiwo]

Exactly, not a good idea, not a good option. What comes my mind is how sms authentication has been successfully manipulated in the paste by hackers, it is possible that sending bitcoin through sms can be that bad through sim swap or related attacks. The best option is to just use the internet and never depend on any third party which are making use of sms that will still depends on the internet to make the transaction valid on the bitcoin blockchain.

You are right @Charles-Tim what also came to my mind is the rate of fake SMS alerts in the network lately, and when I watched the youtube video I was waiting to see where the receiver will send out those Bitcoins received, the amount transferred to him was equivalent to 100 nairas and this amount in naira was included in the SMS alert so that also raised my curiosity about the project. I don't think there is anywhere that is possible for Bitcoin value to be transferred through short messaging services as the platform can not perform such transactions in bits since there is no internet and the processing memory of SMS is not set to process a large volume of services. It will take a lot of development for that to be achieved shortly but now SMS is not ended to end so there will be a high vulnerability in its system.

[Rana590]

Shipping is full of risks, I don't want to take the risk, but I've heard of this problem, but what I know is that using a cellphone is only for storing secret keys and security, to keep it safe from being hacked, correct me if I'm wrong..

If you're talking about online shopping then you can go for it. I know many website are accepting Bitcoin as payment methods where you don't need to put your secret keys for transactions. You can make transaction manually by sending Bitcoin to their wallet address. Bitcoin transaction through cellphone is being popular day by day.