Before setting up your SMS service, consider a few questions:
To implement an SMS service, you can take the following approaches:
This can be as simple as tethering a mobile phone to a laptop. More commonly, you’ll purchase a dedicated GSM modem (which has better performance than a regular mobile phone) and attach it to a server somewhere. In the modem you’ll place a local GSM-enabled SIM card, run the application on your server, and you’re done.
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If you can find a reliable SMS gateway locally, this may be your best option, as they can provide local numbers, facilitate the acquisition of local short codes, and ideally provide competitive prices. Whether this is easy varies from country to ountry. In many countries, it is difficult and time-consuming to find a local provider who is timely and reliable.
Pro:
There are many reputable international SMS gateways, although their service and availability within a particular country can vary greatly and should always be tested before launch.
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One common solution we use is to take a local SIM card from a given country, enable roaming, and then ship it to an international SMS gateway. This gives us many benefits of the above two solutions without the drawbacks.
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Cons:
Most SMS services are offered through third-party SMS gateways, whose business involves making it easier for third parties to offer services via SMS. Although it is rare, from time to time an organization can be lucky enough to form a strong partnership directly with a telecom operator.
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Gateway: A gateway is a web service which provides access to particular services. A website can interface with an SMS gateway over the internet in order to send and recieve SMS.