[ANN] Coinapult SMS wallet - no internet required

[bearbones]

You can now use your cell phone to control your Coinapult funds. This is accomplished through simple SMS commands sent to the Coinapult phone number: (603)509-2102

Basic commands are:

help me - prints available commands
send (person) (amount) - Sends (amount) to (person). (person) can be a phone number, email or btc address.
bal - Returns your Bitcoin balance.
txs - Returns a list of your last 5 transactions.
addr - Returns a new Bitcoin address for you to receive at.
yes (code) - Confirm a send request

All Bitcoin sent to your phone number is accessible through these commands by default. Each time you receive funds, it will still give you the recovery URL, if you prefer to use the website. In the future, I'll allow site accounts to be created, and users will be able to combine multiple email addresses and phones into one account.

So, I've played around with this enough to be confident that it works well. I'd like feedback, though. I will send 0.2btc to the first 5 people who PM me their cell phone number. Please just leave your thoughts in this thread.

Currently only U.S. and Canadian numbers are supported.

[EDIT] All funds are sent. [/EDIT]

[LightRider]

Also, free instant bitcoin community Rolodex!

[bearbones]

Also, free instant bitcoin community Rolodex!

I've already got one of those. :p

No, I just want some feedback on the system. The commands seem easy enough, but it is always hard to tell from the inside.

[Stephen Gornick]

Does it work from Google Voice?

[bearbones]

Does it work from Google Voice?

That is an excellent question. I haven't tried it, but it should work. There is an easy way to find out. Just send any of the commands above, and see if it responds.

[paraipan]

Any chance you implement whatsup with your services in the future ?

I found this thread on xda about work being done for an api http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1344114

[bearbones]

Any chance you implement whatsup with your services in the future ?

I found this thread on xda about work being done for an api http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1344114

You're the second person to ask about whatapp, so I'm definitely considering it. The whole point of this wallet, though, is that it can be used without an active internet connection. If I understand correctly, whatsapp requires a data plan, which means you already have access to traditional wallets like bitcoinspinner. Since these are undeniably easier to use than this SMS system, I wonder who would bother.

All right, I'm off to bed for now. Will check back in the morning.

4 more left. Feel free to message me while I'm out, if you want free coin and a test drive.

[cbeast]

You can send Bitcoin via TOR to a throw-away phone. Interesting.

[paraipan]

Any chance you implement whatsup with your services in the future ?

I found this thread on xda about work being done for an api http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1344114

You're the second person to ask about whatapp, so I'm definitely considering it. The whole point of this wallet, though, is that it can be used without an active internet connection. If I understand correctly, whatsapp requires a data plan, which means you already have access to traditional wallets like bitcoinspinner. Since these are undeniably easier to use than this SMS system, I wonder who would bother.

All right, I'm off to bed for now. Will check back in the morning.

4 more left. Feel free to message me while I'm out, if you want free coin and a test drive.

Thanks for the info, btw i like your service, it remind me of this one for fiat currency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Pesa

[kangasbros]

Cool. SMS bitcoin wallet service is definitely "the shit". I have been thinking about it a long time.

[kangasbros]

By the way, is there any protection agains sends from SMS fake numbers?

http://www.hackinguniversity.in/2011/06/how-to-send-fake-sms.html

For example, someone sells you 5 bitcoins to your SMS number with cash. Sometime after the trade, he empties your coinapult account by faking sending number. Does this work?

[bearbones]

Just sent out a couple more of the free 0.2btc payloads. 2 more to go!

Out of curiosity, did you just hooked up a cellphone and using it as a modem through AT commands? All SMS providers I know will charge you a fee to send and receive SMS, so I was wondering how are you tackling this.

I am using Twilio, which is charging me $0.01 per message. It is far from an ideal solution, but I've always had good experiences with them. Like the rest of Coinapult, my hope is be able to allow free access for the general public by charging a small fee to API users. This may or may not be plausible, with fees this high. I may also be able to find a cheaper partner to work with.

By the way, is there any protection agains sends from SMS fake numbers?

http://www.hackinguniversity.in/2011/06/how-to-send-fake-sms.html

For example, someone sells you 5 bitcoins to your SMS number with cash. Sometime after the trade, he empties your coinapult account by faking sending number. Does this work?

This does not work. Sending Bitcoin out of your phone is a 2-step process for exactly this reason. Example:

me: send 777-333-4444 5btc
Coinapult: Send 5btc to 777-333-4444? Respond 'yes 1wh5er' to confirm.
me: yes 1wh5er
Coinapult: Funds sent. Balance: 10btc

[MemoryDealers]

If you do decide to add support for IM services,  I would like to suggest LINE.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/line/id443904275?mt=8

LINE has more than 38 million users worldwide and is used in over 230 countries!

[bearbones]

If you do decide to add support for IM services,  I would like to suggest LINE.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/line/id443904275?mt=8

LINE has more than 38 million users worldwide and is used in over 230 countries!

I don't think LINE has an API, Roger. We may not be able to interface with them. :/

[MemoryDealers]

Is this service ready for me to start sharing with my friends and family?
Will the telephone number be changing in the future?
Is it OK to start using this now?

[bearbones]

Is this service ready for me to start sharing with my friends and family?
Will the telephone number be changing in the future?
Is it OK to start using this now?

The telephone number will not be changing for U.S. and Canada, and the service will only change superficially. I.e. making instructions more helpful and integrating further with the website.

Please, feel free to share!

[MemoryDealers]

I would like to suggest making SMS.coinapult.com with all the instructions and information about this service.

The service won't be any good if no one knows about it.

[HorseRider]

It's really great. I have an google voice account an it works! If I were living in USA I will definitely use it as my daily bitcoin wallet.(not saving wallet of course)

[Stephen Gornick]

It's really great. I have an google voice account an it works! If I were living in USA I will definitely use it as my daily bitcoin wallet.(not saving wallet of course)

I think I see the problem.   You must first have an incoming Coinapult transaction in order for the SMS wallet to be created for that number.   I suppose this is to prevent spamming, otherwise Coinapult would be responding to the SMS messages (e.g., for "bal") where no wallet existed yet even.  Since each outgoing SMS costs Coinapult, I can see the rationale for not responding to these messages  which don't yet have a wallet.

[Stephen Gornick]

Needs green address (or other instant method).  Maybe using a green address?  Or from the form, let me paste a redeemable code (in BTCs) from an exchange?

That's an id ten T problem on me  (ID10T).  

Coinapult does send out the message immediately, on 0/unconfirmed.