How to receive SMS on your computer
After knowing all information about sending SMS
messages from PC to computer you can start our next lesson regarding to
SMS messaging. This chapter of our "SMS booklet" describes the way how you
can receive the SMS messages sent from mobile phones at your PC. After a short
introduction please read some technical background of receiving SMS messages at
computers below this page.
Repeate some facts about SMS technology from the previous lesson:
SMS technology:
SMS technology is a developing communication method for delivery of important
and brief information as plain text messages. It is commonly used in everyday
life however, SMS messaging is far more than just a tool for teenage
communication. It is highly recognized by the business world. Its popularity is
due to its simplicity and efficiency (SMS messages can hold short but critical
informations like reminders, notifications, alerts, etc.)
How to implement SMS technology into your IT system:
The greatest advantages of SMS technology is that it can be easily integrated
into your IT system to provide SMS services on your computer.
Why would you need that?
In cases if you wish to introduce SMS messaging as part of your communication
marketing mix then it is critical to be able to reach
the masses BUT it has the same importance to ensure two-way communication.
Give the opportunity for your audience to feedback. In this way you can
gain important information about their opinion, demands, ... Launch more
targeted and satisfying SMS campaigns due to these pieces of information!
Let this information work for you!
Be the one who exactly know his customers!
And how can you achieve this? With the implementation of the right application
that will provide SMS functionality for your IT system. This application is an
SMS gateway software.
What is an SMS gateway software:
SMS gateway software is a software product that provides SMS functionality for
your computer to be able to receive SMS text messages from mobile phones at your
computer. (Learn Lesson 1 on how to send SMS from
PC to mobile phones).
There are several open source SMS gateway packages that are available free of
charge. However, if you need a complex, stable and reliable SMS software that
is able to meet all your requirements and professional technical assistance is
also required then it is highly recommended to purchase a high-quality
software product such as Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software.
How to receive SMS from mobile phones to your PC
If you wish to receive SMS messages from mobile phones at your PC you need to
download and install an SMS gateway software.
(Download the
FREE trial version of Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway to experience SMS functionality on your computer).
The SMS gateway software connects to the SMS center (SMSC) of the mobile service
provider in two possible ways: either with the help of a GSM modem
(GSM modem connection)
or over the Internet
(IP SMS connection).
- Option 1. GSM Modem Connection
In case of this option a GSM modem (or GSM phone) is connected to the server
computer.
Conserning connectivity you can use a
standard RS232 cable, a
USB data cable,
Infrared or
Bluetooh link.
The standard RS232 cable is the most recommended to use because it can be
attached directly to your PC's COM port. The second option is a USB data cable.
For these cables you will need to install a driver that will create a virtual
serial port in your operating system. Bluetooth or IR connections are not
recommended since these wireless links are unreliable.
- How to receive SMS over GSM modem connection?
In this case there is no network traffic since the whole process takes place
within the SMS gateway software: AT commands run periodically to check if there
is an incoming SMS message. If there is an incoming message then the message is
downloaded and stored in Inbox folder of the SMS gateway software. If there is
no incoming message then nothing happens until the next check.
Find real examples on
how to use a GSM modem connection with an SMS
gateway on the following webpages:
SMS messaging with a GSM
device (modem or phone) attached to the PC
RS232 Serial Cable and
Industrial Modems
How to configure GSM
Modem Connectivity
Option 2. - IP SMS Connection
If you don't want to use or you cannot use a GSM device for some reason, you
can connect directly to the short message service center (SMSC) of the GSM
service provider over the Internet. This solution is called IP-SMS. In this
case you need to contact your mobile service provider (e.g. T-Mobile, Vodafone,
etc) and tell them that you wish to send/receive SMS messages over the Internet
directly to their SMSC. The next step is the signing of the contract with the
selected service provider.
If you signed a contract with the GSM service
operator then you will be provided by a connection protocol name
(
SMPP,
UCP,
CIMD2 or
HTTP) and connection
details such as IP address, Port, Username, Password. These pieces of
information is used for the configuration of the connection in the SMS gateway
software. Once you have finished the configuration you can start to receive SMS
messages at your computer over the Internet.
You can contact two types of mobile service providers:
- Mobile network operators (T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, O2, ...)
- Independent SMS service providers
(
SMS Service providers)
- How to receive SMS over IP SMS connection?
You can receive SMS messages at your PC over the Internet in two possible ways.
In these cases the receing process takes place outside of the SMS gateway
software.
- Synchronous way:
In this case a HTTP request comes from the SMS gateway software
(from the HTTP Client) to check if there is an incoming message
or not. The HTTP server will respond to this request. If there
is no incoming message then nothing happens until the next
reqest. If there is an incoming message then the message will be
stored in the Inbox folder of the SMS gateway. It is possible to
set the time intervals to control the frequency of these checks.
For example, if you set the period to check the server in every
30 second then the HTTP Client will check the server in
every 30 second that will generate network traffic to a great
extent.
- Asynchronous way:
In this case an SMPP server forwards incoming SMS messages to the
SMS gateway software independently of any request or checks.
Practically, it means that if there is an incoming message then
it will be forwarded to the Inbox folder of the SMS gateway software
without any request. This is the preferred one of the two options
since the asynchronous option does not generate network traffic
needlessly.
The Asynchronous way is the method for protocols that has been
developed for this kind of message transfer while the
Synchronous way is used for those protocols that has been developed
for message transfer (like HTTP) and it sends responses
immediately.
Are you looking for an application that is
able to handle both options in a stable way?
If you search for an application that provides SMS functionality to your IT
system then you
cannot miss
Ozeki
NG SMS Gateway software. If you need outstanding capacity and various
connection possibilities all over the world then Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
is the proper choice for
you.
Download the
FREE trial
version of Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software to test how you can build your own SMS
system within minutes.
Ozeki SMS products can be used with every standard SMS compatible GSM modem and
they can be used to connect directly to the SMS service center (SMSC) of the
Mobile network operators and Independent SMS service providers.
The following pages give you information about how you can setup an IP SMS
connection or a GSM Modem connection in Ozeki NG SMS Gateway:
How to configure IP SMS
connection in Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
How to configure GSM SMS
connectivity in Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
Further readings:
Lesson 1: How to send SMS from your PC to mobile
phones
For more information or technical assistance please contact a professional at
info@ozekisms.com.
