Idea: e-mail bitcoins - page 2. | Bitcointalksearch.org

jostmey

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Quote from: mjcmurfy on September 13, 2011, 04:46:06 PM

I also found this site earlier. It's a bit unprofessional looking if I might say so.
Not an intermediary that I would have much trust in.

I actually spent over a year setting up email servers. I know just about everything there is to know about the email protocol. I just don't have the time to setup the front-end of such a website, or I would do it.

I even wrote code that would convert images to HTML tables so that graphics would get through image blockers :-)

mjcmurfy

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I also found this site earlier. It's a bit unprofessional looking if I might say so.
Not an intermediary that I would have much trust in.

jostmey

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Someone else has already implemented the idea you just described :-( Here is their website:

http://www.bitcoinmail.com/

I know, I had the same idea awhile ago.

FreeMoney

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Strength in numbers

Cut out the middle man. Hey mom, I encrypted this bitcoin private key with your PGP. Decrypt it and use the import key utility built into bitcoin v1.2.04.

mjcmurfy

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Quote from: Elwar on September 13, 2011, 12:06:33 PM

I agree that the middle man thing sucks. But it would be more of money flowing through as opposed to large quantities of BTC sitting at some company's server.

True. As long as the intermediary is trustworthy and as transparent as possible, that probably wouldn't be too much of an issue.
This would be a good way of expanding the bitcoin economy. I like it.

Elwar

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Quote from: mjcmurfy on September 13, 2011, 10:55:14 AM

wouldn't it be just as easy to email your friend telling them to download the bitcoin client and to give you their wallet address so you can send them the coins directly?

If I were to send my mom an e-mail right now saying "Hey, I have 5 Bitcoins for you. I need you to go to bitcoin.org and download the client, then send me the address it gives you, then I will send it to you." it would seem like more of a hassle than a gift.

If instead you got an e-mail that said "You just received 5 Bitcoins from Michael with the following message: 'Happy Birthday'. To spend these Bitcoins click here to download the Bitcoin client and here to retrieve your coins (Save to XYZ folder)."

"Once you have done so, here is a list of recommended sites for you to spend your Bitcoins..."

Easy coordination for the person sending, there is no back and forth between sender and receiver.

I agree that the middle man thing sucks. But it would be more of money flowing through as opposed to large quantities of BTC sitting at some company's server.

mjcmurfy

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I like the concept of this. However, wouldn't it be just as easy to email your friend telling them to download the bitcoin client and to give you their wallet address so you can send them the coins directly? Involving 3rd parties where it is not necessary negates the primary goal of the bitcoin project itself.

I like the idea, but I just don't see a market for it, and it would require too much trust in the intermediary.

Elwar

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Here is a thought:

How about a site where you can e-mail Bitcoins to someone.

Basically, you enter the receiving e-mail address and how much you want to send. Then you include whatever text or maybe a flash birthday card or whichever.

Then the site creates an address and you send the BTC to that address.

The recipient gets an e-mail with instructions on how to download the wallet and how to set up Bitcoin.

This would be more for a marketing type of setup where you can send mom or dad or whomever a few Bitcoins, whether it is for a special occasion or you just want to introduce them to Bitcoins.

Yes, this would require that a third party site has access to the wallet. It would be for small quantities and just for introduction to newbies so instructions could also include how to set up their own secure wallet and how to transfer from the temporary wallet to their own wallet.

If the recipient does not ever access their wallet...the money goes back to the sender (tell the recipient that they have X days to claim the Bitcoins).

There is plenty of potential for profit from the e-mailing company whether through fees for sending or just advertising to people who have Bitcoins to spend as free money.

And it would help to spread the word.

Any thoughts? Is this possible?

Topic: Idea: e-mail bitcoins - page 2. (Read 3160 times)