Overview and process analysis of payment methods based on SMS and WAP

In the field of modern mobile payment, two payment methods based on SMS (Short Message Service) and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) have their own characteristics and are widely used in users’ daily transactions. The following will systematically summarize and analyze the processes and characteristics of these two payment methods.

SMS-based mobile payment process

In 2004, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China launched SMS-based mobile banking services nationwide for the first time, providing users with convenient value-added services. SMS-based mobile payment adopts point-to-point short message mode, which is low-cost and high-efficiency. The specific process is as follows:

1. User request: Users send content requests to the mobile payment platform through text messages.
2. Legality Authentication: After receiving the request, the mobile payment platform verifies the user’s legitimacy and account balance. If it is legal, request the content from the value-added service provider; otherwise, an error message will be returned.
3. Content request: After receiving the request, the value-added service provider verifies the legality of the mobile payment platform and returns the requested content after confirmation; if it is not legal, it returns relevant error information.
4. Fees Deduction: The mobile payment platform deducts the corresponding fees from the user’s account, forwards the content to the user, and notifies the payment result.
5. Transfer notification: The mobile payment platform notifies the value-added service provider that the transfer is successful.

The advantage of this payment method is its high efficiency and low cost through short messages, which is very suitable for small-amount information services. The security of short messages plays a key role in this process.

WAP-based payment process

WAP is an open global standard designed to achieve seamless connection between digital mobile devices and the Internet. WAP service allows users to directly access the Internet through their mobile phones and interact with web content. The WAP payment process mainly includes the following steps:

1. Mobile client: The payment process starts from the mobile client, and the user selects the product and generates an order.
2. Merchant and payment gateway: Transaction information is sent from the mobile client to the merchant, and then forwarded to the bank through the payment gateway registered by the merchant.
3. Bank verification: After receiving the transaction information, the bank will verify and process the transaction, and finally send transaction status feedback to the merchant and mobile terminal.
4. Disconnect: Throughout the transaction process, the mobile phone can disconnect after submitting the order, saving wireless network bandwidth and user expenses.
5. Payment Confirmation: The bank sends a signed message to the mobile terminal to confirm the payment.

In this payment method, users do not need to be online continuously, avoiding high network usage fees.

Conclusion

The application of payment methods based on SMS and WAP in the field of mobile payment provides users with convenience and diverse choices. With the development of technology, these two payment methods have continued to optimize in terms of small-amount services, commodity transactions, and user experience, laying the foundation for future mobile payment trends.