SMS Sending

[roadsweeper]

A quick question...

I know there are web services for SMS sending but I *know* I have seen hardware that can be attached to a server to send SMS messages 'directly'. Sadly, I just cannot remember what such hardware is actually called! Can anyone help?

(Before anyone says, 'mobile phones' I know they can be attached but we're talking about quite a high volume of messages and I think a mobile phone wouldn't cope)

[GregE240]

GFI so a product called "SMSMaker", not sure if its shipped with their FaxMaker product, but it does the job you need.

HTH,
Greg

[roadsweeper]

Ah, the first article I found when looking for SMSMaker mentioned a GSM modem - which is exactly the device whose name I could not remember.

Thanks for the help.

While I'm on here, does anyone have any recommendation for cheap and reliable SMS Gateway (i.e. web service for SMS) providers?

[_dobbo_]

We use www.clickatell.com who have both HTTP and SMTP APIs. Cost is a few pence per message.

[J_S_G]

The hardware devices that're attached to a server are NOT what you want... that's the "old" model of doing this stuff. We used to use a stack of the Siemens mobile terminals for this, and they're basically mobile phones in a brick (SIM cards and all). You won't get more than 1 message per second out of them.

Best bet is an SMS service provider with a Web API (either direct HTTP, or preferably Web-service based). A lot of these will now allow bulk-sending via their API.

[roadsweeper]

Tanks for the info - sounds like an SMS provider is the way to go.

[sam_r]

I have a good friend that owns a company that sends SMS and bulk SMS.

Would you like his details?

[khushy]

I have used this service for YEARS - it seemlessly works with Outlook (or you can have it as a standalone) it even sends a message from your PC as though you were sending it from YOUR mobile!!!!

www.sms4windows.com

about 10p per text

awesome!

[khushy]

I have used this service for YEARS - it seemlessly works with Outlook (or you can have it as a standalone) it even sends a message from your PC as though you were sending it from YOUR mobile!!!!

www.sms4windows.com

about 10p per text

I buy mine in blocks of 1000 because its cheaper.

awesome!

also known as SMS Executive - which is also used by Orange

[J_S_G]

khushy said:

I have used this service for YEARS - it seemlessly works with Outlook (or you can have it as a standalone) it even sends a message from your PC as though you were sending it from YOUR mobile!!!!

www.sms4windows.com

about 10p per text

awesome!

Not good for bulk sending (lowest-cost routing on large scale sending should have those price down to more like 3p/message, for a start...)

[size13]

_dobbo_ said:

We use www.clickatell.com who have both HTTP and SMTP APIs. Cost is a few pence per message.

dobbo, do they give feedback on which messages got through etc?

[Plotloss]

If you have a Windows Mobile you can get a thing called Jeyo Mobile Extender which will allow you to send texts from Outlook on a mobile attached to a PC via USB.

Mobile Gateways are the things that attach to a server.

An online gateway which you send the message to which forwards it on is probably the best way though.

[J_S_G]

size13 said:

_dobbo_ said:

We use www.clickatell.com who have both HTTP and SMTP APIs. Cost is a few pence per message.

dobbo, do they give feedback on which messages got through etc?

Be careful over SMTP interfaces if you want to guarantee a message has been sent to someone - without delivery receipts (which themselves aren't guaranteed, or timely), you have no (immediate) way of knowing whether a message has been accepted by their system or not. (Then there's the separate problem of delivery to the phones, but at least it'd be part of the problem solved)

[_dobbo_]

J_S_G said:

size13 said:

_dobbo_ said:

We use www.clickatell.com who have both HTTP and SMTP APIs. Cost is a few pence per message.

dobbo, do they give feedback on which messages got through etc?

Be careful over SMTP interfaces if you want to guarantee a message has been sent to someone - without delivery receipts (which themselves aren't guaranteed, or timely), you have no (immediate) way of knowing whether a message has been accepted by their system or not. (Then there's the separate problem of delivery to the phones, but at least it'd be part of the problem solved)

I'm not aware of any providers that can give reliable delivery stats.

WRT SMTP delivery - I believe its an option to request delivery reports via SMTP or HTTP.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Saturday 15th July 15:02

[J_S_G]

_dobbo_ said:

J_S_G said:

size13 said:

_dobbo_ said:

We use www.clickatell.com who have both HTTP and SMTP APIs. Cost is a few pence per message.

dobbo, do they give feedback on which messages got through etc?

Be careful over SMTP interfaces if you want to guarantee a message has been sent to someone - without delivery receipts (which themselves aren't guaranteed, or timely), you have no (immediate) way of knowing whether a message has been accepted by their system or not. (Then there's the separate problem of delivery to the phones, but at least it'd be part of the problem solved)

I'm not aware of any providers that can give reliable delivery stats.

WRT SMTP delivery - I believe its an option to request delivery reports via SMTP or HTTP.

With HTTP you can guarantee the SMS service provider received the request, with SMTP you can't. SMTP receipts are also lossy, so they can't be relied upon.

As I said - going HTTP solves 50% of the problem about determining success. The other 50% is much more difficult.

[combemarshal]

Just get a mobile on T-Mobile, as well as a free xbox 360 you get £180 worth of credit for £35 a month, I think that 1.8p/text!