Text Message Data

[Guest]

HI Guys,
I am quite puzzled at the following issue:

I have a .net application linked to SQL database in back end. In database we
have records for clients and their associated Projects.There is a need that
came up and the company wants us to provide SMS based functionality where an
exec can type in keyword on their phone and send it and recieve small
description regarding the client and project on their phone similar to Google
SMS.

Can someone please tell me how this can be done?

Thanks a million in advance.

Manny

 

[Lucas Tam]

I have a .net application linked to SQL database in back end. In
database we have records for clients and their associated
Projects.There is a need that came up and the company wants us to
provide SMS based functionality where an exec can type in keyword on
their phone and send it and recieve small description regarding the
client and project on their phone similar to Google SMS.

Can someone please tell me how this can be done?

Here are a couple options:

1. Easiest - SMS Gateway (google search SMS gateways, ClickATel is one
example).
Gateways allow you to send messages via serveral formats, through
e-mail, web service, sockets, or through SMS messaging protocols

2. Hook a SMS compatible phone to your server and send messages via the
phone using an ActiveX (or .NET) object

3. Interface directly with your mobile phone company's SMS gateway
(IP*Works has such a component)

I would choose option #1... while slightly expensive (about 5 - 10c a
message), you get high reliability and ease of interface.

For SMS to propogate between networks (say for example AT&T and Verizon)
there needs to be a peering contract between the two companies. If there
is no peering, no messages with get through. Large commerical SMS
providers do the peering internally and route the messages to the proper
outbound gateway to ensure delivery.

Couple catches - if you're in North America, many carriers do not
consider SMS to be mission critical... you might notice things from
message slowdowns (takes hours for delivery to occur) to messages
outright disappearing! Also different commerical providers (depending on
where they're located and how their peering is setup) will affect their
delivery times and reliability.