Here’s a rundown of what Qlink (QLC) is all about based on the official website and latest whitepaper (version 9.1).
Qlink markets itself as the “world's first decentralized mobile network”.
An example of a centralized mobile network is a company that offers SMS (text messaging service), voice, data and other cloud-based communication services. Today’s centralized mobile network industry is faced with the following issues:
• Expensive usage-based fees
• Difficulty in accurate content distribution and billing
• Operators overcharging customers
• Security issues surrounding data transmission
Practical Uses of Qlink
According to Qlink, its decentralized mobile network won’t experience the issues encountered by centralized mobile networks. Here are 4 ways that Qlink intends to decentralize the mobile network industry:
1. Decentralized Global Wi-Fi Sharing Network
An example of a decentralized Wi-Fi sharing network is when Jen, owner of a boutique hotel, shares her Wi-Fi hotspot with the clients of Jeff – owner of a cafe located next to Jen’s hotel. Jeff doesn’t own a Wi-Fi hotspot but most of his customers are requesting for Wi-Fi access.
To transmit Wi-Fi password, Qlink uses blockchain, ensuring that the login process is secure. Jen, in return, will be rewarded by QLC tokens for sharing her hotspot connection, while Jeff doesn’t have to worry about setting up a Wi-Fi equipment. The cafe customers, meanwhile, will enjoy a Wi-Fi service that’s free from annoying intrusive advertising.
2. Mobile Data for Content Distribution
In mobile data for content distribution, content providers, for instance, fans of the band Coldplay could register their favorite Coldplay content on Qlink, create a data package and then share this content with members of the Coldplay fans club.
3. Decentralized E2P SMS Service
In a decentralized E2P SMS service, users register their unused SMS assets on the Qlink network. These unused SMS assets can be purchased by businesses who use SMS to distribute marketing messages, one-time dynamic passwords, registration codes or verification codes.
4. Decentralized Telecom Infrastructure
Decentralized telecom infrastructure of Qlink answers the problem of mobile network traffic. For instance, a concert of an international artist could generate hundreds of thousands of concert attendees and this could result in mobile network traffic at the venue. In this case, the local touring company of the international artist can organize for few hundreds of Qlink BaseStation – Qlink’s decentralized telecom infrastructure – to ensure that the concert attendees stay connected during the concert.
Qlink Technology
Qlink's network core technology is blockchain, comprising of a public chain and Qlink’s own blockchain, the Qlink Chain.
The NEO blockchain is the public chain that’ll be used by Qlink. The blockchain of NEO will be used to register telecom assets and assign them a digital identity. Qlink Chain, on the other hand, will be used to keep a record of transactions between telecom asset owners and users on a ledger. It’ll also be used to deploy and execute smart contracts.
Qlink Team
Qlink’s team is headed by Allen Li, former Huawei software engineer. Li founded a tech start-up that received a $30-million worth of investments from investors, including Alibaba Venture Capital Fund.
One of Qlink’s advisors is Shihuang Xie, former head of investment of Alibaba and one of the original 18 founding partners of Alibaba.
Road Map
Q1 2018
• Launch SMS & Wi-Fi product
Q2 2018
• Publish SMS/Wi-Fi SDK
• Publish mobile data & content distribution MVP
• Launch mobile data billing smart contract
Q4 2018
• Publish Qlink Chain
• Publish Qlink Wallet
• Launch Qlink Basestation
Photo Source: Pixabay
Note: The author doesn’t promote the cryptocurrency mentioned in this post. This post is written for information purposes only.