2 way SMS

p2p

Can anyone recommend a good system of setting up
a 2 way sms system.

Are the phone companies any good at this in terms of support/scripts
or do they handle all this internally and charge a fortune?

So far the options i'm considering are

- Siemens Java SDK (Involves purchasing a siemens phone + expensive texts from
irish operators)

- NowSms.com ( requires a GSM modem and unsure of costs yet)

- CorporateSms ( does not have the ability to send a nokia logo )

I would like to create an application that on recieving a text message will send out a logo to that users phone for as cheap as possible.

Anyone with any experience/advice in this field would be greatly appreciated.

str8_away

2 parts 1)receive SMS and 2) send SMS

1) receive sms:
a) GSM modem link to computer.
cheap but slow, need 4+ seconds to read each sms
b) Sign up for direction to SMSC
fast but expancive and also limited to receive fron one network.
c) Goto SMS brocker
expancuve to setup but fast and able to receive from all network

2) send sms
a) GSM modem link to computer.
cheap but slow, need 4+ seconds to send each sms
b) Sign up for direction to SMSC or Goto SMS brocker
expancuve to setup but fast
c) websms
like simplewire.com
d) 300 free sms - don't think they support logo
like vodafone.ie or O2.ie

Are you planning to charge to receive your logo?

Hobbes

MIDP2.0 supports SMS listeners for your applications afaik. But then I am not sure if it will let you save the logo. I suppose you could in the recordstore but probably not a good way to do it.

Plus the user would have to support midp2, and download your application, and activate the option to download the logo.

Why not just MMS instead?

p2p

Thanks for your answers guys.

I'd prefer to stay away from MMS or MIDP 2.0
as, correct me if i'm wrong but these technologies are not
present on every phone.

A few questions about the sending and receiving though :

Does a GSM modem to the computer through a serial port

A
i. ) Send a text as if you were sending from you're mobile
(eg meteor phone would send to the meteor Short Message Center
which would forward the text to the end users phone)

- in which case it would be quite expensive on a day to day basis.

ii.) If you have a GSM modem do you need a gateway?
If so can you link the GSM modem to the gateway to the Short Message Center
and agree a rate with a telco for cheaper bulk texts.

B

i.) I was told by meteor today that they would provide me access to their Message
Center but i would need to write my own application.
Would this involve a GSM modem as above? Or perhaps you can send requests
over tcp/ip to their network/gateway

C

i.) I'm looking at clickatell who do a great rate of €0.044 for outgoing texts
(unsure of their incoming rate as of yet)

I appreciate the help guys

str8_away

Most of GSM modem woud connect through comm port.

Using GSM modem is same as using your mobile phone. You would not need any gateway.

There are many ways a telco company provide like to their SMS centre (SMSC)
These are methods I have encountered.
1. direct connection using tunnel and VPN. (with SMPP)
2. using SSL and HTTPS (with XML or soap)
3. using their own software.
4. .....

I am not sure which method Meteor uses.

That's a good price €0.044,
is there any condition on min. SMS to be send per month?

Don't think they would charge for incomming SMS, but make sure you can receive SMS from other networks too.

NB. They might offer you a shared number.
i.e you and other customer shares one number. your client would need to start their SMS with a KEY word for the SMS to route to your program.
Or you can have a number for yourself but I think it would be more expancive.

p2p

Thanks for the response.

I've decided what to go for :

Clickatell.com -> outgoing -> €0.044 a text

mobilealerts.net -> incoming -> €v. good rate indeed