A method includes receiving, by a mobile device associated with a distributed transaction, a message via a messaging service provided by a mobile network operator. The method further includes determining, by a content based router of the mobile device, that the message is associated with the distributed transaction by determining that the message includes a transaction identifier that corresponds with an entry in a transaction table of the content based router. The entry identifies the distributed transaction and a destination of where to forward the message. The method further includes forwarding, by a processing device of the mobile device, the message to a resource manager resident on the mobile device. The resource manager corresponds to the destination of where to forward the message. The method further includes performing, by the resource manager, an action associated with the distributed transaction in view of contents of the message.