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What is NowSMS?
Are you confused about what exactly NowSMS is? Our web site contains a lot of technical information about features and functionality of the NowSMS product, but we'll be the first to admit, it's all a bit overwhelming to the first time visitor.
To avoid any confusion, we should start by explaining that NowSMS is not a bulk SMS or MMS service provider. Also, NowSMS is not a replacement for a bulk SMS or MMS service provider. You need a connection to an SMS service provider, or a GSM modem, before you can send any messages with NowSMS.
NowSMS is a middleware tool which simplifies the process of connecting to one or more of these service providers and/or managing one or more GSM modems.
We have prepared the following information to help you learn more about NowSMS and SMS/MMS technology in general.
Why do hundreds of customers use NowSMS?
NowSMS is an extremely powerful tool for SMS and MMS messaging, and different customers have very different configurations and reasons for using NowSMS. Most customers do not use all of the functionality of NowSMS, but use NowSMS to help address specific application needs.
Below are some of the more common reasons that we see customers using NowSMS:
SMS Gateway - NowSMS can manage simultaneous connections to one or more SMSCs, supporting the major SMSC protocols, including SMPP, UCP/EMI, CIMD2, HTTP, and/or GSM modems. NowSMS handles the low level protocol details, and makes it easy to switch between different providers, as well as making it easy to add additional connections for situations where it is advantageous to route messages for different countries via different providers.
2-Way SMS Application Enabler - NowSMS is a great tool for enabling rapid development of interactive SMS applications and services. When NowSMS receives an SMS message, it can be configured to dispatch that message to a script running on an HTTP server, to a local executable program, or local script or batch file. This provides a simple way to get received messages into an application, so that the application can perform custom processing on the message. The application can generate a simple reply back to the received message, or perform more advanced application specific logic.
MMSC - NowSMS is an Multimedia Messaging Service Centre, or MMSC. It has the capability to support person-to-person (phone-to-phone) MMS messaging, as well as application-to-person and person-to-application MMS messaging. Over 20 mobile operators are using NowSMS as an MMSC to enable multimedia messaging on their networks.
MMSC for Application to person messaging - In many environments, NowSMS is implemented as a secondary MMSC to enable application to person MMS messaging, while another MMSC provides person-to-person MMS messaging services.
MMS Gateway - NowSMS can interface to existing MMSCs using MM7, MM4, or EAIF. It can also interface to operator MMSCs over a GPRS modem using MM1. NowSMS handles the low level protocol details, and makes it easy to switch beteen different providers, as well as making it easy to add additional connections.
WAP Push Proxy Gateway (PPG) - NowSMS makes it easy to send WAP Push messages, supporting push message submission via a simple HTTP interface, as well as support for the more advanced Push Access Protocol (PAP) interface. NowSMS also includes support for Multimedia WAP Push, which can be used as a lower cost alternative to MMS for the delivery of multimedia content.
OTA Provisioning Gateway - NowSMS supports OTA (Over-the-Air) provisioning based upon the Nokia/Ericsson OTA specification, and the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Provisioning Content specification. These protocols allow browser, messaging and synchronization settings to be sent to devices over SMS. OMA Provisioning also supports additional setting types, such as those used for Push-to-Talk, e-mail, and more.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) Enabler - NowSMS provides a simple interface for sending out MMS or WAP Push messages with DRM Forward-Lock enabled. NowSMS also supports the encoding of more advanced DRM rights messages for delivery over SMS/WAP Push.
SMSC Multiplexer - NowSMS allows multiple applications to share SMSC connections by functioning as an SMPP server. Applications designed to submit messages using SMPP can connect to a NowSMS server, and NowSMS can route the messages over any of its supported SMSC links. NowSMS can also support multiple clients connecting in to submit messages over an HTTP/Web interface.
These are just some of the application uses of NowSMS. We invite you to study our features list to learn about the technical capabilities of NowSMS that might be of use for your applications and/or services.
What is an SMS Service Provider?
What is an SMS service provider? Well, if you're looking for free SMS, you've come to the wrong place.
SMS is a big money maker for mobile operators. Every time an SMS message is delivered to a mobile phone, the one thing that you can count on is that the mobile operator to which that phone is subscribed, is getting paid.
In most of the world, the sender pays for an SMS message to be delivered, and the recipient receives it for free. (Things are slightly different in the USA, where both sender and receiver pay.)
A mobile operator will not accept an SMS message for delivery unless it has a direct or indirect billing relationship with the sender. (The USA is an exception here, with providers offering free e-mail to SMS gateways because in this case they are willing to charge only the recipient.) The billing relationship can be direct, such as when you have an account with a mobile operator that allows you to submit messages to their SMSC. Or it can be an indirect relationship when the mobile operator of the recipient has a billing relationship with your SMS service provider or another mobile operator through which the message is being sent.
Most mobile operators have an SMS service provider offering which will allow you to connect to the operator SMSC to deliver messages. However, these connections often require relatively high initial setup fees. Independent SMS service providers are often aggregators of traffic, buying bulk SMS capacity from one or more mobile operators, as well as other aggregators, allowing them to offer services less expensively than dealing with the operator directly.
But beware, as the lowest priced SMS service provider is often not the most reliable. In many cases, the lowest priced providers are delivering messages over roaming links from foreign providers. While these links can be more cost effective, they are more susceptible to delays.
NowSMS does not recommend any particular SMS service provider, and we have customers using many different providers, and connecting to many different operators.
So what about the free SMS sites?
Well, at the end of the day, someone has to pay for an SMS message to be delivered. While a web site might offer free SMS to its customers, unless a temporary loophole in an operator pricing plan has been found, the operator of that web site is paying for SMS messages to be delivered. That is why these sites limit the number of messages that you can send within a given period, and why they go out of their way to ensure that you submit messages through their web site instead of using automated programs like NowSMS.
The cost of providing the free SMS service on these sites is usually subsidized by advertising. Advertisers pay the site to run ads, and at the end of the day, the goal is to collect more in advertising revenue than is spent providing the service.
Other free SMS sites may have different reasons for providing a free service. The free service might be a teaser for a premium service, providing just enough functionality that the web site operator hopes that it will encourage free users to migrate to a paid service.
The thing to keep in mind is that somebody is paying for the SMS messages to be delivered.
What about Reverse Billed SMS?
Reversed billed SMS, which is generally known as Premium Rate SMS, is a special type of SMS where the receiver is charged for receiving a message, and the sender receives a percentage of the amount that is charged to the recipient on their mobile phone bill.
Premium rate SMS is not available in all countries. Where it is available, like with other types of SMS, the sender must have a direct or indirect billing relationship with the recipient's mobile operator in order to send a premium rate SMS message. This is understandable because the recipient's mobile operator is going to charge the recipient for receiving the message.
By purchasing bulk capacity, many independent SMS providers offer more attractive revenue share and/or lower setup fees for premium rate SMS than what is available from the operators.
What is a GSM Modem?
A GSM modem is a specialized type of modem which accepts a SIM card, and operates over a subscription to a mobile operator, just like a mobile phone. From the mobile operator perspective, a GSM modem looks just like a mobile phone.
However, a GSM modem exposes an interface that allows applications such as NowSMS to send and receive messages over the modem interface. The mobile operator charges for this message sending and receiving as if it was performed directly on a mobile phone.
GSM modems can be a quick and efficient way to get started with SMS, because a special subscription to an SMS service provider is not required. In most parts of the world, GSM modems are a cost effective solution for receiving SMS messages, because the sender is paying for the message delivery.
While there are specialized GSM modem devices, such as the Siemens MC35 Terminal, or various devices from Wavecom, many mobile phones also have inbuilt GSM modem capability. Capabilities vary by mobile phone, but different mobile phones have options to connect to a PC as a GSM modem using a serial or USB cable, or using Bluetooth or infrared technologies.
A partial list of GSM modems that have been tried with NowSMS can be found at the following link: http://www.nowsms.com/discus/messages/1/4218.html
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