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About SMS

Introduction

The Short Message Service (SMS) is part of the GSM specification and allows messages to be sent to and from GSM mobile networks throughout the world. A single short message can contain up to 160 characters and comprise of words, numbers or an alphanumeric combination.

Receive short messages through voice, data and fax calls. SMS also provides confirmation on short message delivery. Non-textual short messages can also be sent to carry 8-bit binary data. Messages comprising of Unicode character sets which include Arabic and Chinese characters can also be carrier in SMS.

SMS is a store and forward service where a short message is sent via a Short Message Service Center (SMSC). An advantage of this is that the destination mobile device does not have to be on the network at the time when the message is sent. If a destination mobile device is not available at the time the message is sent, the SMSC service center will retry to deliver the message. Delivery of a short message takes only a few seconds from SMSC to the mobile device.

SMS messages can be up to 140 octets or 160 characters in length and can carry information coded in different ways. The most common ‘coding scheme’ is the GSM default alphabet. This way an SMS can code a simplified text alphabet into 7bits per characters.

Most advanced applications will typically use 8-bit data where the SMSC makes no assumptions on the coding scheme and allows applications to use the 140 octets as they wish.

GSM modems

SMS Server supports GSM modems to send and receive SMS Messages. It supports a broad range of GSM modems that support the ETSI GSM 07.05 guidelines. Modern GSM devices (made by Nokia, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, etc.) use the similar subset of AT+C command set and are, as a result, also supported by Auron SMS Server. You can connect a GSM modem through one of the following interfaces:

  • Serial port;
  • USB interface;
  • Bluetooth;
  • Infrared.

SMS Server supports TAPI drivers (like ‘Standard 9600 bps Modem’) to make configuration of GSM modems easier. Using TAPI, you can configure the baud rate, initialization strings, etc. through the standard Windows Control Panel.

HTTP Providers (SMS over HTTP)

SMS Server supports HTTP compliant SMSC providers, where SMS messages are delivered to the SMS provider via HTTP. The provider delivers the messages to the mobile phones.

The HTTP SMS protocol can only be used to send SMS messages. It allows a client (i.e. Auron SMS Message Server) to access the SMSC’s (‘Short Message Server Center’) using the HTTP protocol to send SMS messages. To allow connection between SMS Server and an HTTP compliant SMSC center an IP connection between these two systems is setup.

You need to sign-up with an HTTP-compliant SMS center before you can actually use their service. It normally requires a small sign-up free and a fee for an SMS bundle per month.

SMS Server provides free HTTP SMS messaging for a limited number of SMS messages. You can connect to the Auron HTTP SMS gateway and send messages right after installation without the need to sign-up with an SMSC center first.

SMPP Providers

SMS Server supports SMPP 3.4 compliant SMSC providers.

The SMPP protocol allows a client (i.e. Auron SMS Server) to access the SMSC’s (‘Short Message Server Center’) systems to send and/or receive SMS messages. To allow connection between SMS
Server and an SMPP compliant SMSC center an IP connection between these two systems is setup.

Usually, an SMSC center provides multiple sites, to ensure that the service is always available. An SMSC provider ensures high-volume and high throughput messaging.

You need to sign-up with an SMPP-compliant center before you can actually use their service. It normally requires a small sign-up free, and a fee for an SMS bundle per month.

SMS Server provides free SMPP messaging for a limited number of SMS messages. You can connect to the Auron SMPP SMS gateway and send/receive messages right after installation without the need to sign-up with an SMSC center first.