SMS Messages (How to implement)

There are a considerable number of SMS Server products on the market. We have researched a fair number of these and this document sets out our recommendations on the set up and configuration of an SMS Server in a Notes / Domino environment.

The article focuses on useage in the UK but most of the content applies equally to other parts of the globe. The SMS Servers featured here are PSWinCom Professional and SMS Gateway from GPA Technology.

PSWinCom Professional - more info

We recommend this as it supports all available messaging protocols - TAP, UCP, GSM & TCP/IP - and a wide variety of hardware devices. It is also one of the few products that allows multiple recipients numbers in the subject field (see later), runs on a variety of Windows OS variants (9x/NT/2000/XP) and is very competitively priced.

What it does not do is handle "SMS to e-mail" without a subscription account.

SMS Gateway - more info

This is a GSM device only product. It is very reasonably priced but does not handle bulk messaging and would be a costly solution for SMS sending as each message sent will attract a message cost at the rate associated with the mobile phone contract. It is however recommended for the "SMS to e-mail" support that is missing in PS Win Com Professional.

SMS Gateway runs on a vaiety of Windows OS variants and supports most mobile devices via serial cable to COM port.

Download SMS Gateway Windows version here
Download SMS Gateway Linux version here

For sending we recommend PSWinCom Professional and for receiving we recommend SMS Gateway from GPA Technology. Buying both is not an expensive solution given the flexibility that can be created.

Sending

E-mail to SMS Addressing

The choice is usually number@sms or message to a dedicated mailbox (e.g. SMS Admin/Notes) with the recipent phone number(s) in subject field.

For a one off SMS Message either addressing format is perfectly OK. However in the case of bulk messaging there is a problem with our favoured SMS Server product (PSWinCom Professional) where a message to "number1@sms, number2@sms" does not get processed correctly. This is not a flaw in PSWinCom Professional as it does what it is designed to do. The problem is with Notes Message ID's where although the router creates two messages and delivers them correctly they both carry the same Message ID. The POP3 download into PSWinCom Professional works in this case but since both messages carry the same ID PSWinCom Professional will only process the first message on the basis that the second is a duplication and therefore an error.

To send bulk messages using PSWinCom Professional it is therefore necessary to ensure that the addressing format is "SMS Admin/Notes" with the recipient numbers carried in the subject field.

In Notes terms these two issues mean that careful consideration is required in the Domino set up and the way that users create their messages (both are dealt with at Administrator level in the Setup of SMS Messages v3).

Domino Setup

1. Set up a new Notes user "SMS Admin/Notes", issue an Internet password and make their mailfile a POP3 account.
2. Create a Foreign Domain document "SMS" and stipulate that the mailfile is that of "SMS Admin/Notes".
3. Edit the design of the mailfile and remove the selection formula in the view named ($POP3) - alternatively drop us a line and we will supply a modified mailfile template.

By doing this you can allow one off SMS messages to be addressed to "number@sms" and also use SMS Messages v3 to create and send bulk messages using the "numbers in subject field method".

PSWinCom Professional is one of only a number of SMS Server products that allows "multiple numbers" in the subject field. A significant number of other products only cater for single messages.

Protocols

TAP - All UK SMS Message Centres use this protocol via modem dialup. The major disadvantage is the inability to send a "sender number" and thus receive replies to your messages.
UCP - Not supported in the UK and therefore requires use of a foreign SMS Message Centre and the associated increased call cost. The advantage is full support of advanced features including sender number. Modem and/or ISDN dialup.
GSM - connected handset / GSM modem. Messages charged at the associated contract rate. Not good for bulk messaging.
TCP/IP - uses a non standard TCP/IP port to connect to PSWinCom's gateway. Messages are charged on an advance purchase basis. No major issues except the corporate firewall needs to have the relevant port opened.

Receiving

This is more straightforward.

SMS Gateway simply requires a connected mobile device which receives incoming messages and forwards them as e-mail via SMTP to your Domino server. Simple configuration enables incoming messages to be sent to any internet address provided the message is coded correctly e.g.

A message sent to
+44XXXXXXXXXX

from
+49XXXXXXXXXX

with the following text
sales@double6.co.uk#message

results in an e-mail containing message being routed to your Domino server for normal delivery.

The sender address of the e-mail can either be a fixed address or modified to produce the following "+49XXXXXXXX@sms" which then allows the e-mail recipient to reply via e-mail to SMS using the PSWinCom Professional set up described above.

Currently OFFLINE
TRY IT - send an SMS to ~~00447779796756~~ with the following as your message

yourfullemailaddress#your message

The delimiter is " # "

NB - This is for demonstration purposes only. A valid e-mail address will result in you receiving an e-mail.

Conclusion

Double 6's development of SMS Messages v3 has been carried out in conjunction with the two SMS Server products mentioned and results in a very low cost, but highly reliable & flexible system that will account for most organisations requirements.

Our solution at just over £1,000 inclusive of SMS Messages v3, a 100 messages a day licence for PSWinCom Professional and a single licence for SMS Gateway compares very favourably to an implementation of Lotus Domino Everyplace SMS Server at over £4,000.

Our solution also has the added advantage that the Domino server involved need not be running on NT/2000 whereas Lotus Domino Everyplace SMS Server is an NT/2000 only product.

Jim Gooch
Managing Director
Double 6
1 October 2002

PS - We are currently developing a mail in database for a specific customer that will use the SMS to e-mail capability of SMS Gateway to enable real time updating of central records by field staff with only a mobile phone at their disposal.