Pocket Desk
A text-message assistant for solo tradespeople. Built by Ed McCormick and Daniel Schottenhamel.

How recipients opt in

Last updated 1 September 2026

Pocket Desk is a pre-launch pilot. Its only participants right now are the two operators, testing the service on handsets they personally own. No customer has been onboarded. This page is the procedure every participant goes through before Pocket Desk sends them anything.

The verbal consent script

Before anyone is added, an operator reads the following to that person, in person or on a call. This is the script.

Verbal consent script v1 — documented 1 September 2026. Read to each participant before any message is sent.

“I’m setting up Pocket Desk for you. It’s a text assistant for your job notes and schedule. You’d text it from your own cell phone and it texts you back. It only ever replies to messages you send it — it never texts you first, and there’s no marketing or promotions. You’d get roughly a hundred messages a month, all of them replies to you. Message and data rates from your carrier may apply. You can stop it any time by replying STOP, and reply HELP for help. The terms and privacy policy are at pocketdesk.net. Do I have your OK to set this up for your number and send you text messages?”

The person answers yes. Their mobile number is then registered as a Verified Caller ID on the Pocket Desk Twilio account, which sends a one-time code to that handset that the person reads back. Twilio logs that step with a timestamp. For the operators' own numbers, those timestamped Verified Caller ID entries are the record that each confirmed their own handset.

The procedure, step by step

  1. Direct invitation. An operator only invites someone they know personally. There is no public sign-up, no advertising of the service, and no way for a stranger to be added.
  2. Verbal consent, using the script above. The person agrees, in person or by direct phone conversation, to receive text messages from Pocket Desk at their own mobile number. Consent is for a handset that person owns and carries, not for anyone else.
  3. Handset confirmation. The number is registered as a Verified Caller ID on the Pocket Desk Twilio account. This requires a code sent to that handset and read back, which independently confirms that the person holding the phone agreed.
  4. They message first. Pocket Desk never initiates a conversation. Every message it sends is a direct reply to a message that person just sent to it.
What we never do We do not use purchased lists, rented lists, third-party lead sources, or any automated collection of phone numbers. We do not add a number on someone else's behalf. We do not send promotional or marketing messages of any kind. There is no public web form — enrollment is one-to-one, by the script above.

Opting out

A participant can stop all messages at any time by replying STOP to any message. This is handled at the carrier level and takes effect immediately. Replying HELP returns contact information and opt-out instructions.

Participants may also ask an operator directly at ed@pocketdesk.net to be removed, and their number will be deleted.

Message frequency and cost

Roughly 100 messages per month, entirely determined by how often the participant chooses to text the service. Message and data rates may apply.

Related

Privacy policy · Terms and conditions