Bulk SMS Gateway
Bulk SMS Gateway is a software application that is used to
send SMS messages in large quantity
from the computer via the mobile network. It allows one SMS message to be sent out to a large number of
people or a great amount of SMS messages with different contents to be delivered
to many people. Large companies and corporations send out SMS messages in bulk
for the sake of efficiency and to save time and money.
Bulk SMS gateways are more capable to send out hundreds of thousands of text messages,
therefore this solution is more often used. Mobile phones are also capable of sending
out SMS messages to a few hundred people, but that option cannot be used if a company
or organization has hundreds or millions of clients, and there are a
large number of messages that need to be sent out.
Bulk SMS for businesses
Large businesses use SMS gateways on the computer
that lets them add an unlimited number of messages and to send out these bulk SMS
messages in massive quantity on a regular basis to a great number of people. This
solution is used because it allows users to send SMS messages cheaply and quickly.
To achieve the best transfer rate of SMS messages, Internet connection is
recommended to be set up in the bulk SMS gateway software. This allows a direct broadband
connection with the SMS center (SMSC) of the SMS service provider or GSM network
provider. This method becomes available after the company signs an agreement with
the provider that will allow the company to access the SMSC directly in exchange
for a monthly fee. For this, a password and a username is given out, along with
the IP address and port number of the SMSC. For Internet connection to be
established, there are standard protocols that are used, such as SMPP or
UCP/EMI protocols.
Other businesses can choose to set up a simple wireless connection, which
requires a GSM/GPRS modem or a mobile phone to be connected to the computer.
These devices, especially GSM modems (since they are dedicated to work with computers)
allow businesses to send out SMS messages with an SMS gateway.
A GSM modem has a capacity of 6-10 Messages per Minute.
The developers of bulk SMS gateway software
products usually offer training courses through which individuals can learn
about the methods of bulk SMS delivery with the use of SMS gateways.
Bulk SMS gateways usually also allow SMS messages to be imported from Microsoft Excel datasheets.
These Excel files can contain an unlimited number of different SMS messages
and the composed list can be imported into the bulk SMS gateway. Usually these
bulk SMS gateways only support CSV formats, therefore the excel document must be saved as a
.csv file. After importing them into the gateway, it sends
these out to as many phone numbers as it was set.
The other method is to use
the built-in message composer of the gateway that allow to add contacts and
save previously written messages for further use. Bulk SMS gateways
are designed especially for the purpose of sending bulk SMS,
and many of them offer easy configuration options for automated bulk SMS deliveries.
In the figure below, you can see an illustration of
how bulk SMS gateway works:
Figure 1 - Bulk SMS gateway is used to send bulk SMS to many recipients
To get more information, please visit the following websites:
The Ozeki NG SMS Gateway website
The best site about SMS integration