Patent ID: 8108252

Claim:
A computer implemented method for aggregating demand for a merchant using short message service (SMS), comprising the steps of: receiving a first text message from a consumer in a web application running in a memory in a web server, the first text message containing a merchant code and a request for a discount, the merchant code being associated with a merchant; determining by the web application whether the merchant has an available discount; responsive to the merchant having an available discount: sending by the web application in communication with the SMS a discount text message to the consumer, the discount text message indicating that the merchant has an available discount, the discount text message including instructions for obtaining an available discount from the merchant; and responsive to the merchant not having an available discount: sending by the web application in communication with the SMS a demand text message to the consumer, the demand text message indicating that the merchant does not have an available discount, the demand text message instructing the consumer to present the demand text message to the merchant.