SMS via HTTP SMS gateways
A SMS service provider provides a SMS gateway
for its users to send SMS messages to. This SMS
gateway will then route the SMS messages to another
SMS gateway or SMSC (Short Message Service Center).
Unlike wireless carriers, many SMS service providers
provide detail information about their SMS
connectivity service on their web site. For example,
you may find the cost of the service, network
coverage, protocols supported, developers' guide,
etc, on the web site. Thus, the service of different
SMS service providers can be compared easily. If you
are not happy with, say the price or network
coverage of a SMS service provider, you can simply
leave its web site and find another SMS service
provider.
Another advantage of using the SMS connectivity
services of SMS service providers is that their
network coverage is very good. They work hard to
cover as many wireless networks as possible so as to
make their services attractive. Some SMS service
providers can send SMS messages not only to GSM
wireless networks, but also to CDMA and TDMA
wireless networks.SMS service providers can be
divided into two categories depending on how they
require you to pay for their SMS messaging service:
- Credit-based - You purchase a number
of credits from the SMS service provider's web
site. Sending one SMS message will cost you one
or more credits, depending on the country you
send the SMS message to. For example, sending
an SMS text message to UK might cost you one
credit while sending an SMS text message to the
US might cost you two credits.
- SMS-based - You purchase a number of
SMS messages from the SMS service provider's web
site. The cost per SMS message is the same for
all destinations. For example, if you
purchase ten SMS messages, you can send at most
ten SMS messages no matter the destination is UK
or the US.
The cost per SMS message sent depends on which
SMS service provider you choose and how many SMS
messages you purchase. The more SMS messages you
purchased, the lower the cost of sending one SMS
message, i.e., for most of the SMS gateway
providers, the cost for sending one SMS message
decreases with your purchasing amount.
SupportCalls with Outlook supports the following
providers.
How to get started?
It is easy to send SMS messages with an SMS
service provider. Here are the typical
steps:
-
First select one of the SMS provider from
the above list of support providers
-
Register for an account on the SMS service
provider's web site. (An SMS service provider
may allow newly registered users to send a few
free SMS messages for testing its service
quality.)
-
Log into the account.
-
Buy a number of credits or SMS text messages
online. Many SMS service providers support
credit card payment and some also support
PayPal.
-
Input the login credential given to you in
the Administrative Mobile Messaging in
SupportCalls Settings. SupportCalls would then
send SMS messages using a protocol / interface
(e.g. HTTP, email, FTP) supported by the SMS
service provider. For example, JohnNash, who
has an account with SMS provider
www.celltrust.com, would enter the
credentials as shown below in the screenshot.
Once configured (by the helpdesk manager), the
effect of it is global i.e., every technician would
be able to send SMS manually to callers or other
technicians or to Outlook contacts. The instance of
SupportCalls addin running in the technician's
Outlook would support sending automatic SMS
notifications (for those events on which the
helpdesk manager had defined). Individual
technicians are not required to make any settings.
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