Abstract: Provided is a message communication method performed by a computer, comprising: receiving information at least a part of which is text-format information from a transmission source; determining whether a section having a specific feature is present in the text-format information; converting, when it is determined that a section having the feature is present, a part or an entirety of the text-format information into a message with a format in accordance with the feature and a communication protocol to be used for communication with a transmission destination; and transmitting the message to the transmission destination.

Abstract: To provide an environment in which intermediation of payment can be implemented while maintaining the certainty, information security, and the credibility of cashless payment such as credit card payment.

Abstract: The disclosed technique provides a message communication method comprising: receiving, from a client providing a message delivery service to a user of the client, an address of the user and a message to be transmitted to the address, the address being a phone number of the user or an address equivalent to the phone number; searching a database by using the address and outputting a first search result; associating the address with an opt-in status and storing the address in the database in a case where the first search result indicates that there was no hit for the address; controlling transmission of the message in such a manner as to inhibit the transmission of the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-out status, and to transmit the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-in status or that there was no hit for the address.

Abstract: The disclosed techniques provide a message communication device comprising: a memory that stores program instructions; and a processor that is configured to execute the program instructions stored in the memory to: accept at least an address and one or more messages to be transmitted to the address from a client, and the messages each possibly including a text; select one communications provider device; select one communication protocol; output a message that complies with the selected communication protocol and is to be transmitted to the address, from the one or more messages; and request the selected communications provider device to transmit the message such that the message that has been outputted is transmitted to the address by the selected communications provider device using the selected communication protocol, and repeat the request until the transmission is successful or there are no more combinations of the communications provider device and the communication protocol.

Abstract: A message transfer apparatus is provided which comprises: an acceptance unit that accepts a client ID identifying one of a plurality of clients, a transmitted message from the client to be transmitted to a terminal, and a terminal ID identifying the terminal, the plurality of clients each belonging to one of groups each identified by a group ID; a database in which a correspondence among the group ID, the client ID, a sender ID, and the terminal ID is registered and a plurality of the sender IDs are associated with one of a plurality of the group IDs; a database control unit that updates and searches the database; a transmission unit that transmits, to the terminal identified by the terminal ID, the transmitted message to which is attached one of the plurality of sender IDs in the database associated with the group ID corresponding to the client ID; a reception unit that receives a reply message from the terminal having received the transmitted message, the reply message being a message in which the sender ID