First Text Message Up for Auction to Raise Money for Charity

Strategic Insights -

As the holiday season approaches, many of us will be sending text messages to loved ones, a tradition that originated nearly 30 years ago. The first text message, sent in 1992 by Neil Papworth, a British computer programmer, is now up for auction to raise money for charity. The digital token, an NFT, is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000 and is set to become a unique piece of digital history.

Key Takeaways:

  • The first text message was sent by Neil Papworth on December 3, 1992, to Richard Jarvis, a director at Vodafone, marking a pivotal moment in mobile history.
  • The original text message has been recreated as a NFT, an animation of what appears to be an acrylic display featuring a replica of the original communication protocol and a visual of the cell phone that received it.
  • The NFT comes with an assurance that Vodafone will not be minting any subsequent NFTs of the first text message ever sent, confirming the uniqueness of the NFT.
  • This is not the first time that digital collecting has entered the realm of digital history, with an NFT of the first edit of Wikipedia selling for $750,000 at auction.
  • The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in support of the millions who have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution or conflict.
  • The auction house Aguttes is open to bidders around the globe, and the estimated price range for the first text message is between $150,000 and $300,000.
  • The sale of the first text message is a historic testament to human and technological progress, according to Maximilian Aguttes, founder of the auction house selling the text message.

Statistics:

  • 1992: The year Neil Papworth sent the first text message.
  • December 3, 1992: The date the first text message was sent.
  • $150,000 - $300,000: The estimated price range for the first text message.
  • 30 years: The length of time since the first text message was sent.
  • $750,000: The price at which an NFT of the first edit of Wikipedia sold at auction.
  • Millions: The number of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution or conflict, supported by the auction proceeds.

Sources:

  • (no date) Alexandra Mae Jones and John Vennavally-Rao, CTV Network. "First Text Message Up for Auction to Raise Money for Charity". Retrieved from [no source provided]
  • (no date) Sonja Puzic, Bell Media. "First Text Message Up for Auction to Raise Money for Charity". Retrieved from [no source provided]