World's first-ever SMS sold above $100,000 at NFT auction

Blockchain technology and its dapps have far and wide implications. In December 2021, Vodafone became a Santa to the United Nations refugees agency, UNHCR. Vodafone has sold the world’s first text message, “Merry Christmas” (which was sent on December 3, 1992), in a an auction on Tuesday for 107,000 Euros ($121,000) as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) at a Paris auction house. Reuters reports that Aguttes, France’s first independent auction house, held the NFT auction for the world’s first SMS.

A little history of the first text message: Programmer Neil Papworth sent the SMS to Richard Jarvis, then director at Vodafone, written as “Merry Christmas.” Papworth was working as a test engineer on Short Message Service, which is now popularly known as SMS, for Vodafone on December 3, 1992. He sent that SMS at the office Christmas party.

Vodafone said they would donate the proceeds to UNHCR to support people forcibly displaced away from their birthplace. Moreover, the winning bidder will obtain tangible assets for legal reasons, including a digital picture frame to display the SMS. Also, the buyer will get a digital frame with a 3D animation showing the mobile phone receiving the World’s first SMS. A certificate that guarantees the uniqueness and ownership of the NFT, signed by Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read, will also be given to the auction winner.

NFTs are gaining popularity these days and making new records in cryptocurrency in 2021. In the Google search engine, NFTs have begun to receive more searches than cryptocurrencies. Despite much confusion relating to the legal status of cryptocurrencies in many countries, investors seem to be looking forward to holding NFTs as their reliable investments.

A significant reason behind the acceptable behavior of investors towards NFTs is the uniqueness and creativity of the work of art they are buying or the name of the celebrity or artist. Many celebrities, actors, and companies have launched their NFTs with unique ideas.