THE world’s first SMS has been sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) for US$149,729 at auction in Paris, according to the auctioneer Aguttes.

Reading “Merry Christmas,” the message was sent by British programmer Neil Papworth from his computer Dec. 3, 1992 to Richard Jarvis, then director of U.K. telecommunications company Vodafone.

Jarvis received the message on his Orbitel 901 cellphone during the company’s Christmas function.

The NFT is a replica of the original communication protocol that transmitted the SMS, the auction house said. The unknown buyer, who was to pay in the cryptocurrency Ether, will also receive a digital frame with a 3D animation of the message being received.

Papworth and his colleagues were trying to develop a type of communication whereby their client, Vodafone, could offer users the ability to send messages to each other’s phones, Aguttes explained on its website. They eventually refined the code, and the transmission of texts via Vodafone’s network became a reality.

“In 1992, I had no idea just how popular texting would become, and that this would give rise to emojis and messaging apps used by millions,” Papworth was quoted as saying by the auctioneer. Speaking about the sale of the SMS NFT, Maximilien Aguttes, the development manager at Aguttes auction house, said, “The first printed book, the first phone call, the first email, all these inventions have changed our lives and communication in the world.”

“This first text message received in 1992 is a historic testament to human and technological progress. It transmitted a message of joy, ‘Merry Christmas’,” Aguttes added.

Vodafone said earlier this month that proceeds from the sale would be donated to the United Nations Refugee Agency. (SD-Agencies)