Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common questions about Stork SMS

Get answers to the most common questions about Stork SMS, from basic usage to advanced features.

General Questions

What is Stork SMS?

Stork SMS is a decentralized messaging platform built on the Solana blockchain that combines traditional messaging features with Web3 technology. It uses NFTs for access control and provides end-to-end encryption for secure communication.

How is Stork SMS different from traditional messaging apps?

Key Differences:

• True Ownership: Your messages are truly yours, stored encrypted and accessible only to you
• No Phone Numbers: Uses Solana wallet addresses instead of phone numbers
• NFT-Based Access: Each conversation is secured by NFT ownership
• Decentralized: No central authority can access or block your messages
• Blockchain Benefits: Transparent, verifiable, and censorship-resistant

Do I need to know about cryptocurrency to use Stork SMS?

While Stork SMS is built on blockchain technology, we’ve designed it to be user-friendly for everyone. You’ll need:

• A Solana wallet (we’ll guide you through setup)
• A small amount of SOL for transaction fees
• Basic understanding of connecting your wallet

Our interface is designed to feel like a regular messaging app with the added benefits of Web3.

Getting Started

What wallets are supported?

Stork SMS supports all major Solana wallets:

• Phantom (recommended for beginners)
• Solflare (mobile and desktop)
• Ledger (hardware wallet for security)
• Torus (social login option)

How much does it cost to use Stork SMS?

Current Costs:

• Chat Creation: 0.001 SOL ($0.10) for dual NFT creation
• Messages: Free to send once chat is created
• File Sharing: Free for images and voice messages
• Network Fees: Minimal Solana transaction fees

Compared to traditional NFTs: Our compressed NFTs cost 99% less than regular NFTs, making messaging affordable for everyone.

How do I create my first chat?

1. Connect Your Wallet: Connect your Solana wallet to Stork SMS
2. Enter Recipient Address: Paste the wallet address of who you want to message
3. Pay Creation Fee: Confirm the small fee (creates NFTs for both parties)
4. Start Messaging: Once NFTs are created, you can start messaging immediately

The recipient will automatically have access to the chat through their NFT.

Why do I need to pay a fee to create a chat?

The fee covers:

• Dual NFT Creation: Creates access NFTs for both sender and recipient
• Solana Network Fees: Blockchain transaction costs
• Permanent Access: Once created, messaging is free forever
• True Ownership: Your NFTs represent permanent chat access

This one-time fee ensures spam prevention and gives you permanent, transferable chat access.

Technical Questions

How secure is my data?

Multiple Security Layers:

• End-to-End Encryption: Messages encrypted with AES-256-GCM before leaving your device
• Key Derivation: Encryption keys derived from your wallet, never stored anywhere
• Zero-Knowledge: We never see your unencrypted messages
• Blockchain Security: Access control secured by Solana blockchain
• No Backdoors: Mathematically impossible for anyone (including us) to read your messages

What happens if I lose my wallet?

Important: Your wallet is your key to everything in Stork SMS.

If you lose access:

• Messages become unreadable (we can’t recover them)
• NFT access is lost unless you have backup/recovery phrases
• New wallet means starting fresh

Prevention:

• Always backup your wallet recovery phrase
• Consider using a hardware wallet for security
• Keep multiple secure backups in different locations

Can I transfer my chat access to someone else?

Yes! This is one of the unique benefits of NFT-based messaging:

• NFT Transfer: Transfer your chat NFT to another wallet
• Permanent Access: New owner gets full chat history access
• Marketplace Trading: Could potentially sell chat access (if valuable)
• Inheritance: Pass chat access to family members

This makes your conversations truly owned assets.

What data do you collect?

We collect minimal data:

• ✅ Wallet addresses (public blockchain data)
• ✅ Encrypted message content (unreadable)
• ✅ Message timestamps and metadata
• ✅ File upload metadata (not content)

We never collect:

• ❌ Unencrypted message content
• ❌ Personal information (name, email, phone)
• ❌ IP addresses (beyond rate limiting)
• ❌ Browsing history or device fingerprints

Is Stork SMS open source?

Yes! Stork SMS is open source to ensure transparency and security. Check out our code:

• GitHub Repository: StorkSMS/Stork-SMS-Dapp
• Community Contributions: We welcome improvements and contributions
• Security Transparency: Full codebase available for review
• User Feedback: We listen to user input for improvements

Features & Usage

Can I send images and files?

Currently Supported:

• Images: Upload and share images (automatic optimization)
• Voice Messages: Record and send voice messages
• Sticker Messages: Custom Stork-themed stickers

Coming Soon:

• File Attachments: Documents, PDFs, etc.
• Video Messages: Short video clips
• GIF Support: Animated images

How do voice messages work?

Voice Message Features:

• One-Touch Recording: Hold to record, release to send
• Waveform Visualization: See audio levels while recording
• Playback Controls: Play, pause, speed control
• Automatic Compression: Optimized file sizes for fast delivery

Privacy: Voice messages are encrypted the same as text messages.

Can I delete messages?

Message Deletion:

• Soft Delete: Messages marked as deleted but preserved in database
• Your View: Deleted messages disappear from your interface
• Recipient View: Recipients still see the message
• Permanent: True deletion is not possible due to blockchain/encryption architecture

Future Enhancement: We’re exploring mutual deletion features.

What are the message stickers?

Stork SMS includes custom-designed stickers:

• Stork Mascot: Various Stork expressions
• Crypto Culture: “gib alpha”, “bonk”, “rugarugruuug”
• Social: “Applause”, “Poke”, “Envy”
• Community: “certi jeet” and more

New stickers are added regularly based on community feedback.

Can I message someone who doesn’t have a wallet?

Currently: Both parties need Solana wallets to use Stork SMS.

Future Plans:

• Invite Links: Send messages to email/phone, recipient creates wallet to read
• Gateway Messages: Limited messaging for non-crypto users
• Onboarding Tools: Simplified wallet creation process

Troubleshooting

Why isn’t my message sending?

Common Issues:

1. Wallet Not Connected: Ensure your wallet is connected and unlocked
2. Insufficient SOL: Need small amount for transaction fees
3. Network Issues: Check Solana network status
4. Chat Not Created: Verify the chat creation transaction completed

Solutions:

• Refresh the page and reconnect wallet
• Check SOL balance and add funds if needed
• Wait a few minutes and try again
• Check transaction status on Solana explorer

My chat isn’t loading messages

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check Connection: Verify wallet is connected
2. NFT Verification: Ensure you own the required NFT
3. Network Status: Check if Solana network is experiencing issues
4. Browser Issues: Try clearing cache or using different browser

If problems persist: Contact support with your wallet address and chat details.

The app seems slow or unresponsive

Performance Tips:

• Browser: Use Chrome or Firefox for best performance
• Internet: Ensure stable internet connection
• Cache: Clear browser cache if experiencing issues
• Extensions: Disable unnecessary browser extensions

Network Issues: Solana network congestion can occasionally slow transactions.

I can’t connect my wallet

Wallet Connection Issues:

1. Extension: Ensure wallet extension is installed and updated
2. Permissions: Grant necessary permissions to Stork SMS
3. Network: Verify wallet is set to correct Solana network
4. Browser: Try incognito/private mode to test

Specific Wallet Help:

• Phantom: Check if extension is enabled for the site
• Solflare: Verify network settings match
• Ledger: Ensure device is connected and Solana app is open

Costs & Economics

Why are there fees?

Fee Purposes:

• Spam Prevention: Small cost prevents spam messages
• Network Costs: Covers Solana blockchain transaction fees
• NFT Creation: Minting compressed NFTs for access control
• Infrastructure: Supporting decentralized, secure messaging

Cost Comparison: Much cheaper than traditional SMS or premium messaging services.

How do compressed NFTs save money?

Traditional NFTs: 0.1 SOL ($10) each **Compressed NFTs**: ~0.0001 SOL (~$0.01) each

99% Cost Reduction through:

• Merkle Tree Storage: Efficient on-chain data structure
• Shared Verification: Multiple NFTs verified together
• Optimized Metadata: Minimal on-chain data storage

Can fees change in the future?

Fee Structure:

• Market-Based: Fees adjust based on SOL price and network costs
• Community Input: Major changes discussed with community
• Competitive: Always aim to be cost-effective
• Transparent: All fee changes announced in advance

We aim to keep Stork SMS affordable for global adoption.

Privacy & Security

Who can read my messages?

Nobody except participants can read messages:

• Not Us: We see only encrypted data
• Not Governments: No backdoors or access methods
• Not Hackers: Strong encryption prevents unauthorized access
• Only You: And people you choose to message

Technical: AES-256-GCM encryption with wallet-derived keys.

What if Stork SMS goes offline?

Decentralized Benefits:

• Your NFTs: Remain on Solana blockchain forever
• Message History: Could be accessed through other compatible apps
• No Single Point of Failure: Blockchain data persists independently

Future Plans: Open protocol allowing other developers to build compatible apps.

Is my metadata private?

Public Information:

• Wallet addresses (publicly visible on blockchain)
• NFT ownership (public blockchain data)
• Transaction timestamps

Private Information:

• Message content (encrypted)
• File contents (encrypted)
• Chat participants’ real identities
• Message frequency patterns

Future Features

When will group chats be available?

Group Messaging Timeline:

• Q1 2025: Beta testing with limited groups
• Q2 2025: Full group messaging launch
• Features: Up to 100 participants, admin controls, group NFTs

Will there be a mobile app?

Mobile Development:

• Q2 2025: Native mobile apps for iOS and Android
• Progressive Web App: Mobile-optimized web version available now
• Solana Seeker: Special integration for Seeker phone users

What other features are planned?

Short-term (Q1 2025):

• SOL/USDC transfers in chat
• Enhanced file sharing
• Message search functionality

Medium-term (Q2-Q3 2025):

• Achievement system and rewards
• Group messaging
• Cross-chain messaging support

Long-term (Q4 2025+):

• Storkai chat bot for blockchain operations
• Enterprise features
• Advanced privacy options

Getting Help

How can I get support?

Support Channels:

• StorkSMS: Community chat coming Q3
• Email: [e-mail]
• Twitter: @StorkSMS
• Documentation: Comprehensive guides in this documentation

What information should I include in support requests?

Helpful Information:

• Your wallet address (public key)
• Description of the issue
• Browser and operating system
• Screenshots if applicable
• Transaction signatures if relevant

Never Share: Private keys, seed phrases, or passwords.

How can I contribute to Stork SMS?

Ways to Contribute:

• Feedback: Share suggestions and bug reports
• Community: Help other users in Discord
• Testing: Participate in beta features
• Development: Contribute code once open sourced
• Spreading: Tell others about Stork SMS

Is there a bug bounty program?

Security Bug Bounty: Coming soon with rewards for finding security vulnerabilities.

Community Contributions: We reward valuable community contributions with exclusive NFTs and early access to features.

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Still have questions? Our Stork community chat is coming Q3! For now, reach out via email at [e-mail].