diff --git a/backend/rpc.go b/backend/rpc.go
index af603ca..635e32f 100644
--- a/backend/rpc.go
+++ b/backend/rpc.go
@@ -170,5 +170,25 @@ func (s *RpcServer) MonitorConversations(req *rpc.MonitorConversationsRequest, s
 }
 
 func (s *RpcServer) SendMessage(ctx context.Context, req *rpc.Message) (*rpc.Message, error) {
-	return nil, NotImplementedError
+	if req.Sender == nil || !req.Sender.IsSelf {
+		return nil, errors.New("Invalid message sender")
+	} else if req.Recipient == nil || req.Recipient.IsSelf {
+		return nil, errors.New("Invalid message recipient")
+	}
+
+	contact := s.core.Identity.ContactList().ContactByAddress(req.Recipient.Address)
+	if contact == nil || (req.Recipient.ContactId != 0 && int32(contact.Id()) != req.Recipient.ContactId) {
+		return nil, errors.New("Unknown recipient")
+	}
+
+	// XXX timestamp
+	// XXX validate text
+	// XXX identifier
+
+	message, err := contact.Conversation().Send(req.Text)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return message, nil
 }
diff --git a/core/contact.go b/core/contact.go
index 371c887..d0a871c 100644
--- a/core/contact.go
+++ b/core/contact.go
@@ -125,6 +125,13 @@ func (c *Contact) Conversation() *Conversation {
 	return c.conversation
 }
 
+// XXX Thread safety disaster
+func (c *Contact) Connection() *protocol.OpenConnection {
+	c.mutex.Lock()
+	defer c.mutex.Unlock()
+	return c.connection
+}
+
 // Goroutine to handle the protocol connection for a contact.
 // Responsible for making outbound connections and taking over authenticated
 // inbound connections, running protocol handlers on the active connection, and
diff --git a/core/conversation.go b/core/conversation.go
index 8fb14fb..b02ec65 100644
--- a/core/conversation.go
+++ b/core/conversation.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (c *Conversation) UpdateSentStatus(id uint64, success bool) {
 	c.mutex.Unlock()
 }
 
-func (c *Conversation) Send(text string) {
+func (c *Conversation) Send(text string) (*ricochet.Message, error) {
 	// XXX protocol
 	// XXX check that text is ok, get identifier, etc
 	// XXX decide whether sending or queued based on state
@@ -96,10 +96,29 @@ func (c *Conversation) Send(text string) {
 		Sender:     c.localEntity,
 		Recipient:  c.remoteEntity,
 		Timestamp:  time.Now().Unix(),
-		Identifier: 0,                        // XXX
-		Status:     ricochet.Message_SENDING, // XXX
+		Identifier: 0, // XXX
+		Status:     ricochet.Message_QUEUED,
 		Text:       text,
 	}
+
+	// XXX witness thread disaster
+	conn := c.Contact.Connection()
+	if conn != nil {
+		// XXX hardcoded channel IDs, also channel IDs shouldn't be exposed
+		channelId := int32(7)
+		if !conn.Client {
+			channelId++
+		}
+		// XXX no error handling
+		if conn.GetChannelType(channelId) != "im.ricochet.chat" {
+			conn.OpenChatChannel(channelId)
+		}
+
+		// XXX no message IDs, no acks
+		conn.SendMessage(channelId, text)
+		message.Status = ricochet.Message_SENDING
+	}
+
 	c.mutex.Lock()
 	c.messages = append(c.messages, message)
 	log.Printf("Conversation sent message: %v", message)
@@ -110,4 +129,6 @@ func (c *Conversation) Send(text string) {
 		Msg:  message,
 	}
 	conversationStream.Publish(event)
+
+	return message, nil
 }