Do you remember your first text? We may not remember our first text, but the world’s first text message is a documented part of our modern history, and Aquttes Auction House in France is selling it as an NFT. The timing of this auction couldn’t be better as it simply reads ‘Merry Christmas.’ Three decades down the line. A digital replica of the text message is expected to fetch around $199,000. British programmer Neil Papworth (22 years old then) sent the first-ever Short Message Service (SMS) from a computer to colleague Richard Jarvis on his Orbitel 901 handset.
Vodafone sells a virtual replica of the text that is available to buy in cryptocurrency in a world-first auction. The winning bidder will receive a digital file containing information on the sender and the recipient, such as their phone number and the message itself, and will own the exclusive rights. Without a doubt, this moment is iconic for it completely changed the world of mobile communications technology and also the way the world communicates. Mr. Papworth also commented on the event, ‘I only recently told my children that I sent that first text. Looking back with hindsight, it’s clearer to see that the Christmas message I sent was a pivotal moment in mobile history.’
According to Daily Mail, Mr. Aguttes said of the upcoming sale, ‘The first printed book, the first phone call, the first email – all these inventions have changed our lives and communication worldwide. This first text message received in 1992 is a historic testament to human and technological progress – we are delighted to be able to support the sale of this landmark piece of history for this cause.’ The auction will be held in Paris on 21 December 2021 by Aguttes.
