This is a condensed version of a longer article that is available over in our discord server. You can access that detailed article by joining our server here.

3NUM is busy building the future of mobile communications! With our innovative web3 mobile number and service, users will be ditching their traditional monolithic mobile plan for a secure and trusted replacement in no time. The future for 3NUM is comprised of 3 key components which we will break down in this article.

Please note, the purpose of sharing this overview is to be transparent with the community but the roadmap items we’re sharing are subject to change, so keep that in mind as we move forward together.

Those 3 areas include:

1. 3NUM Product

2. 3NUM Protocol

3. 3NUM DAO

Product Roadmap:

3NUM Shield — Available Now

3NUM Shields are the world’s first Web3 Mobile Number, which are created by converting a regular mobile number into a web3 address secured by a user’s wallet. This unlocks the ability to send trusted encrypted messages to your web3 and web2 frens all from the same app, creating a seamless transition from insecure SMS into end-end encryption!

Wallet Secured 2FA (Limited)— Available Now

3NUM users can leverage their wallet secured number for secure 2FA. Traditional SMS 2FA is horribly insecure because regular phone numbers are at risk of being SIM Swapped. With 3NUM, the underlying number of a 3NUM Shield is controlled by a user’s wallet and can’t be SIM Swapped, meaning said number can be trusted for sites that require SMS-based authentication. There are some websites that this service does not work with, such as Twitter and CoinBase. We are in the process of enabling our numbers to work with *all *websites.

Anonymous Number For Encrypted Messaging Apps — Available Now

Encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram are widely used for trusted messaging, but their reliance on regular numbers is a gateway to doxxing. Because 3NUM Shields are purchased in crypto, there is zero PII data collected, so the underlying number can be used as a trusted, no-dox number for these applications!

2-Way Messaging — In progress

Launching message notifications is a precursor to full 2-way messaging with the 3NUM web app. Users will be able to message other 3NUM Shields with end-to-end encryption, in addition to being able to message all traditional mobile numbers. 2-way messaging will be expanded as we work to support additional encrypted messaging protocols (See full article for details).

3NUM Mobile App — In progress

The 3NUM Mobile app will be your gateway to secure and trusted messaging powered by 3NUM! Our mobile app will unlock benefits including a better onboarding user experience, push notifications, access to contacts and more! Building a killer mobile app experience will take time and many of the app features will be rolled out incrementally.

For details on these other incredible features check out our full length article

• Name Your 3NUM

• Web3 Usernames

• Smart Inboxes

• Spam Prevention

• Smart Notifications

• Smishing Prevention

• Wallet Secured 2FA (Full)

• 2-Way Calling

• PFP Wrapping

• Mint On Additional Chains

• Other UX Improvements

• +833 Numbers

• Bring My Existing Number

• Plus More!

Protocol Roadmap:

Much of the utility for 3NUM Shields is realized through the 3NUM Protocol.

3NUM Protocol — Limited Access Until 2-Way Messaging Launches

The 3NUM protocol is what enables 3NUM Shields to message one another in a completely end-to-end encrypted way. 3NUM Shield messaging over the 3NUM Protocol is the most secure way to message a fren. What makes the 3NUM protocol unique, is that it is composable, meaning that it can support additional protocols. The 3NUM Protocol prioritizes the most secure messaging path available, and messages that need to be routed outside of the secure, end-to-end encrypted 3NUM ecosystem are fully encrypted until the point of exit. Users are made aware of how their messages are being routed via UI visuals in the 3NUM app!

SMS — Limited Access Until 2-Way Messaging Launches

The first “protocol” supported for messaging that is ***not ***3NUM to 3NUM is SMS. Because 3NUM Shields are built from a globally routable mobile number, by supporting SMS, your 3NUM Shield is capable of messaging any valid phone number through the 3NUM app! Messages initiated from your 3NUM Shield are fully encrypted before hitting the 3NUM Relay Gateway that routes messages to the SMS network. In-bound messages from a traditional mobile number to your 3NUM Shield are encrypted at this Relay Gateway as well. This means that your 3NUM Shield can replace a regular phone number for trusted messaging. We believe that this pragmatic approach will provide the opportunity to bridge users from unencrypted SMS and into the 3NUM protocol for trusted, end-end encrypted messaging!

XMTP— In Progress

Our team is working on integrating the XMTP protocol to expand the web3 messaging reach of 3NUM Shields. This means that your 3NUM Shield can be used to message other web3 addresses in the XMTP Ecosystem including .lens and Ethereum wallet addresses/ENS names. The XMTP Protocol will be supported at the launch of our 2-way messaging, and expanding support for others in the XMTP ecosystem will happen over time.

Additional protocol details outlined in our full length article

• Signal

• Other Protocol Support

Decentralizing the 3NUM Protocol

The plan from the beginning of the 3NUM project was to turn the 3NUM protocol into a decentralized, tokenized protocol that is run by relayers who are incentivized to decentralize and support the network.

The 3NUM Protocol will become tokenized, and node operators will be incentivized and compensated via the network’s token for providing relay services. The current token economic model and requirements for becoming a relayer are under development, but the network’s model will be comparable to successful Decentralized Wireless projects who have implemented at the network level what 3NUM is doing at the application level.

DAO Roadmap:

Our original vision for 3NUM was that it would evolve into a DAO that’s run by the members of the 3NUM community. The DAO model is great for collectively building solutions aligned with the needs and values of the community. And as a community with shared goals, 3NUMDAO can also create social momentum to help bridge from insecure existing communications infrastructure to the new world of decentralization and shared ownership that web3 offers.

Our goals for 3NUMDAO include:

1. Decentralization & tokenization of messaging infrastructure

2. Managing relationship with regulatory entities

3. Contributor driven go- to-market strategy and activities

4. Product Roadmap guidance

5. Community developer led initiatives

6. Programs for adoption, e.g. word of mouth and evangelism

7. 3NUMDAO governance

This Year

This year we will introduce opportunities for our community to have real impact and influence within the 3NUM ecosystem. The first opportunity will be for 3NUM enthusiasts to propose, vote on and evangelize the 3NUM project and be rewarded for their contributions. In the next quarter, we will begin incorporating community guidance to improve how we talk about the value and values of 3NUM’s solutions. Our core 3NUM team will start sharing more planning and roadmap details, including product features and marketing calendars as a way to kickstart 3NUM community member insight and feedback.

Beyond

The long term direction of 3NUM will be dictated by the DAO and structured similarly to notable projects like ENS and the Helium Foundation. Along with the foundational decentralization mentioned, the 3NUMDAO plans for the usual community participation for governance, feature proposals and more! Another crucial role that the 3NUMDAO will play is to participate in managing the public relationship between regulatory entities, e.g. for telecoms regulations, and 3NUM users.

What’s Next?

We’re on a mission to help transition the world into secure and trusted messaging! You can currently get your 3NUM Shield to use with our available features and join our community to help shape the future of the project!

Get 3NUM here:https://3num.co

Follow us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/3numdao

Join us on Discord to view our full length article:http://discord.gg/cxFU8NvCYV