Iris Msg
A distributed community SMS donation platform inspired by the Solidarity Economy
2017-2018
Introduction
Iris is a system that allows SMS text messages to be distributed to a list of subscribers via SMS donors. People supporting your organisation, group or case can sign up to become 'donors' and donate a number of SMS messages for your cause, drawing upon their latent asset (remaining SMS messages from their call plan). Every time that you need to send a text to a list of subscribers (e.g. volunteers, staff, followers etc.) you share the cost of the text messages sent by routing the announcement through the distributed donor network and draw upon under-utilised assets. As a result, the communication of the organisation becomes more transparent and decentralised. Donors, through the Iris app, are able to see the content of the announcements sent, the subscription lists and sending and delivery reports.
IRISMsg was designed and developed by the research engineering team at Open Lab as part of our work with Open Lab Athens and solidarity groups in Greece.
How it works
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Share messaging costs
Share the cost of the SMS communications of your organisation. People supporting your organisation or cause can sign up to become 'donors' and donate a number of SMS messages for your cause. Every time that you need to send a text to a list of subscribers (e.g. volunteers, staff, followers etc.) you collectively share the cost of the text messages sent.
Communication transparency
As the group announcements are sent through a network of donors and their phones, the communication of the organisation becomes more transparent. People subscribed in your communication lists receive the announcements through one of the organisation donors. Donors, through the Iris app, are able to see the content of the announcements sent, the subscription lists and sending and delivery reports.
Decentralisation
Decentralised communication as the messages are sent through your network of donors. Decentralised coordination as announcements are sent through multiple communication coordinators. Coordinators can manage subscription lists, make announcements by using your SMS donor network and in general decide on the communication strategy of the organisation.
Check out the project website below for more information.