An SMS platform that may help students at ITP is a parts trading database.  The core concept is initially starts with an archived part listing on a wiki database, where each item is given a unique identifying number (i.e. piezo sensor = 012).  A student could then create a profile with this wiki and itemize all of the parts they own.  When a student is looking for that certain part, they could text into the database with that identifying number and then send out a question regarding that item.  Ideally the questions will be regarding selling, trading or support for that item.  The texts can be distributed to anyone who has that item and can either go to their email or text the owner’s phone.  This database could also be expanded beyond physical skill sets and technical expertise.

Perhaps this idea is a bit impractical because there are a large amount of privacy and annoyance issues that arise with this application as well as a large amount of initial time for each person to enter in their parts.  In my own experience, I would not want 10 messages a day asking for help on a piezo sensor, so some form of restrictions would have to apply.  Perhaps a trade only policy or a limit to the number of requests.