>> (p.1)
    Author Topic: Gauging interest. Pay for prepaid wireless with Bitcoin.  (Read 1469 times)

    • DeathAndTaxes (OP)
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    Gerald Davis


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    May 02, 2012, 06:58:44 PM
     #1
    If you currently are using prepaid cellphone/wireless/mobile broadband or planning to in the future would you be interested in a service which provides pin codes and RTR (real time recharge directly to phone #) paid for with Bitcoins?

    Would you honestly use such a service?  
    What if 1% of purchase price was donated to Bitcoin open source development team?
    Prices would be slightly below retail (i.e. $50 prepaid PIN or RTR would be $48 to $49 equivalent in BTC)?

    Pin codes would need block confirmation(s) but I think the risk of double spend is low enough on RTR to have them processed 0-confirm.

    Interested? Comments?

  • twobitcoins
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    May 02, 2012, 07:21:43 PM
     #2
    I think this is a good fit for Bitcoin.  It seems like a risky business that could really benefit from Bitcoin's irreversibility.  You could do it without collecting any identity information.

    I would give your service a try as long as it is reasonably competitive with other discount sellers.  Discounts of around 5% off of face value seem fairly common.  By avoiding CC/PayPal fees you should have a better margin (though much lower volume for now unfortunately).

  • Yankee (BitInstant)
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    Charlie 'Van Bitcoin' Shrem


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    May 02, 2012, 07:26:18 PM
     #3
    We're working on a similar service as well  Grin

    320 Mobile Operators, 100 Countries
    Bitcoin pioneer. An apostle of Satoshi Nakamoto. A crusader for a new, better, tech-driven society. A dreamer.

    More about me: http://CharlieShrem.com

  • Indemnified
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    May 02, 2012, 09:59:26 PM
     #4
    I would use such a service if available in Canada for my Virgin Mobile prepaid.

  • teste
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    May 02, 2012, 10:10:03 PM
     #5
    Yankee,

    Brazil is included in the list of countries?

  • jwzguy
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    May 02, 2012, 10:12:06 PM
     #6
    Thumbs up to you guys.
    Not a service I currently need, but with the way this country is going, I am overjoyed to see anything that protects what's left of people's privacy.
    Hope it is successful.

  • Yankee (BitInstant)
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    Charlie 'Van Bitcoin' Shrem


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    May 02, 2012, 10:13:51 PM
     #7
    Quote from: teste on May 02, 2012, 10:10:03 PM
    Yankee,

    Brazil is included in the list of countries?

    Yes,

    Brazil:

    Claro
    Nextel
    Oi
    TIM
    Vivo
    Bitcoin pioneer. An apostle of Satoshi Nakamoto. A crusader for a new, better, tech-driven society. A dreamer.

    More about me: http://CharlieShrem.com

  • edd
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    May 02, 2012, 10:16:57 PM
     #8
    I've bought pre-paid mobile minutes before and will surely do so again and I would love if I could pay for it with bitcoins. I can't honestly say I would sign up for it immediately, but I can promise that I'd use it eventually.
    Still around.

  • Stephen Gornick
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    May 02, 2012, 10:19:46 PM
     #9
    Quote from: DeathAndTaxes on May 02, 2012, 06:58:44 PM
    If you currently are using prepaid cellphone/wireless/mobile broadband or planning to in the future would you be interested in a service which provides pin codes and RTR (real time recharge directly to phone #) paid for with Bitcoins?

    PIN codes for U.S. carriers sold here:
     - http://www.btcbuy.info/CallingCards.cshtml
     - http://bt.irlbtc.com/view/78050.0

    Quote from: DeathAndTaxes on May 02, 2012, 06:58:44 PM
    Pin codes would need block confirmation(s) but I think the risk of double spend is low enough on RTR to have them processed 0-confirm.

    Yup, PIN codes are like a bearer negotiable instrument, so you'ld site pretty vulnerable the risk of a race attack or a Finney attack.
    Unichange.me

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  • datafish
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    May 03, 2012, 05:11:06 AM
     #10
    I have the bitcoinwireless.com and bitcoinwireless.net domains.  I would be willing to transfer them to a reputable member of the community if he/she were going to do something awesome with them.  I also think this is a great idea.  You should offer a selection of phones, too.  It would provide the opportunity of having a completely anonymous phone service, with the ability to refill without going into a retail store.

  • DeathAndTaxes (OP)
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    Gerald Davis


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    May 03, 2012, 03:48:16 PM
     #11
    Quote from: datafish on May 03, 2012, 05:11:06 AM
    I have the bitcoinwireless.com and bitcoinwireless.net domains.  I would be willing to transfer them to a reputable member of the community if he/she were going to do something awesome with them.  I also think this is a great idea.  You should offer a selection of phones, too.  It would provide the opportunity of having a completely anonymous phone service, with the ability to refill without going into a retail store.

    PM sent.  

    Selling Phones is something I have considered however it will require holding (depreciating) inventory so I would want to see enough demand first but I agree that it would be a great idea.  You could pay for phone, SIM card, and airtime all by BTC.  Only phone & SIM need physical delivery and it could be anywhere you want.

    Prepaid wireless is really starting to reach parity with contracted plans.

    Google is selling the Galaxy Nexus (unlocked w/ no contract usable on 200 carriers globally) direct to consumers.
    https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa

    Simple Mobile (T-mobile reseller) offers unlimited plan for $40 a month.
    http://www.mysimplemobile.com/plans-40-unlimited.aspx

  • datafish
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    May 03, 2012, 07:39:37 PM
     #12
    I received a lot of inquiries on the domains, so I decided to auction them and donate the proceeds to the bitcointalk.org forum.  Please see this thread:

    https://bt.irlbtc.com/view/79115.0
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