According to Google, China currently has a population of 1.3 billion people. For every 1 million people, there are an average of 530 Point-of-Sales Systems (POS) and ATMs.  Contrast this to the United States where there are an average of 10,000 POS systems and ATMs to every 1 million people. And, to add to the dilemma, it has to be kept in mind that most of the transactions in rural China are cash based while most of the POS systems and ATMs are located in the cities. This has proven to be problematic for those living in rural areas, until recently, with the introduction of a creative SMS solution.

The Mobile Payment SMS Solution

The payment system provides individuals with the convenience of not having to rely on the presence of cash to perform transactions. Instead, all that is required is to send an SMS text message containing the mobile number of the recipient and the amount. A notification message is sent to the recipient once the funds have been transferred into their account. This type of SMS solution provides a number of benefits to the individual, some of which are:

• Increased convenience when doing business as there is no need to rely on technology that is hard to come by
• Less risk to the individual seeing as there is no need to carry hard currency.
• Use ubiquitous media (the cell phone and SMS) which means that the technology is not restricted to specific types of handsets or people.

Needless to say there is a benefit to the financial institutions using this SMS solution too: they are able to expand their presence across a broader geographical region with decreased expenditure, which ultimately translates into more revenue gained. And that from a service that has the potential to improve the quality of life of millions of individuals.

Will it Spread?

Similar technologies already exist, with banks currently using push messaging to provide their customers with account security and information. But we are yet to see a widely implemented solution available that adds to the everyday shopping experience by using an SMS solution as ubiquitous as SMS. The concept is good and can provide millions upon millions of individuals in rural areas with a safe alternative to carrying money or having to travel for miles to reach a bank. But, more importantly, such a system could provide everyone, including city dwellers, with added convenience when it comes to doing business or transferring money.

Interested in making life easier for your customers? Read more on our SMS solution page.

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A couple of years back it was easy – if your business required the services of an SMS provider you simply searched the internet and selected one of the few, or you asked a friend who already had everything in place. It has however become an extremely competitive industry with bulk SMS service providers popping up left and right. How do you make that choice that will ultimately benefit your business? Here are three super tips every business should take into account when choosing a bulk SMS text message service provider…

1.      Look for a balance between service and price

More often than not businesses who select a service provider assume that one SMS provider is the same as any other, and therefore select the one that fulfils the messaging requirement at the cheapest cost. This helps preserve the budget and will essentially have messaging implemented.

One aspect that any business decision maker should consider however, is the reliability offered by the chosen SMS provider. Do they have the infrastructure in place that works toward reliability in message delivery? Reliability should be a key factor and not necessarily negated by the price factor. After all, you want your customers to receive your messages, don’t you?

It’s important to find a balance between price and reliability in service to ultimately ensure that your customers receive the benefit they are paying for.

2.      Look for a solid support structure

Support is crucial because problems are inevitable – it’s just the way things are. It’s therefore essential to ensure that the SMS provider you aim to deal with has the backing of a knowledgeable in-house support team that is available when you do business. Why in-house? Quite simply because they have hands-on experience with the products and technologies you’ll be using on a daily basis.

3.      Try before you buy

Lastly but not least, we come to the actual testing of the product you wish to invest in. Does the SMS provider you wish to invest in provide you with some free messages for the purposes of testing? How extensive is their coverage?

Having the convenience to test the technology and make sure messaging works on the networks you wish to send to is the final piece of the puzzle – if the price is agreeable, the service good and the support effective, then all that’s left is to send those test messages to the networks your customers are one.

And that’s how you select a SMS provider that will benefit your business by providing messaging at a price worthy of the service delivery to the networks you need to get in touch with.

To put the above into practice, go to our SMS provider page now.

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Over the past few years text messaging has moved from the personal short messaging sphere into the commercial arena, largely thanks to online SMS. It allows businesses to send bulk SMS text messages to their customers for the sake of immediate and context-relevant communication via a popular and readily accessible medium in most countries… the Internet (yes, we’ve got the internet to thank for many of our modern-day conveniences).

Here are a couple of examples of organisations that have featured in the media as a result of introducing text messaging for the sake of better communication.

Restaurants

SMS text messaging can improve customer service. It can also help retain current customers (and bring back a few old ones), which is why the Hard Rock Café has made use of a web-based solution to provide their customers with that little bit extra. More specifically, the Hard Rock Café is using online SMS text messaging to reduce customer wait times, especially since more than 50% of Americans refuse to return to a restaurant if they have to wait too long.

Schools

A while back we reported about schools implementing SMS text messaging to keep tabs on pupils who, without the knowledge of their parents, skip school. Some of the first instances where this was implemented was in Ireland, when two Irish schools wished to dissuade pupils form skipping class. The names of absent pupils are entered into a database connected with an online SMS system, and their parents or guardians contacted. Since then similar systems have been implemented in Australia, the United Kingdom, France, India and Italy.

The Police

In an effort to eliminate under aged drinking, the police in St. Joseph County (Indiana, USA) have made use of SMS text messaging. According to reports the implementation of this technology would allow citizens to anonymously get in touch with the police to alert them about stores selling liquor to minors.

Many more examples like those above exist in the media, most of which have been made possible by the use of online SMS, which serves to indicate that such a relatively simple technology has the power to set industry trends by allowing businesses and organisations to communicate better with those people that rely on them.

Beat the competition today, and set the trend. Read more about online SMS by going to our SMS Gateway page.

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Many businesses all over the world use the HTTP/S SMS API, and for reasons that are easy to understand: it provides fast and accurate submission of messages whilst remaining easy to implement. Let’s take a look at some of it’s features…

• Runs on TCP/IP: HTTP, or Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol, is probably one of the most well known protocols on the internet and operates on a request-response basis. Due to its ubiquity it doesn’t require any special software to be used, and can be integrated into virtually any software package with even the most basic HTML programming skills.
• No firewall problem: Taking the above into account, this also means that the HTTP/S SMS API won’t experience any firewall problems, as it operates through the same ports as the average web browser.
• Bi-directional messaging: In terms of functionality, HTTP/S can compete with some of the more high-end SMS APIs (like SMPP) with it’s two-way messaging capability. This means you can initiate an active dialogue with your customers and employees.
• Secure: Now we get to the ‘/S’ in HTTP/S which simply implies a secure connection. In simple terms, this means that instead of http://… you’ll be using  https://…
• Message Personalisation: Like most other APIs, message personalisation with the HTTP/S SMS API is possible, easy and done automatically. This also means that messages can be tailored to your customers by integrating database fields into the body of the message.

Example: “Dear John Smith, you’ve just earned 500 loyalty points. Come back any time to exchange them for…”

In the above message “John Smith”, “500” and any other part of the message can be personalised according to each of your customers by simply placing variables in the message body where you want them to appear.

• Powerful reporting: Information reigns supreme, which is why reporting is such an important aspect of any business. The HTTP/S api allows you to:
  • See who is reading your messages
  • Query destination network statuses
  • Check your account balances and much, much more..

Of course, the HTTP/S API may not provide the benefits that some of the other APIs do. Find out which one is right for your business – go to the SMS API page now.

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There has always been a divide between the online and offline world. While Smartphones are capable of acting as an ‘on the go’ web and email client, they remain almost exclusively available to those who can afford one. But thanks to one developer, website owners that use the Wordpress platform can now use bulk SMS to supply visitors to their websites with current information on any mobile device.

Simple Ideas & Big Solutions

It started out as an idea, and transformed into a easy-to-install Wordpress bulk SMS plugin that requires almost no technical proficiency to use. More importantly, it provides a mechanism that allows website visitors to subscribe to a mobile service without ever having to visit a brick & mortar (real world) store.

Putting it into context, one can easily imagine a scenario where a person in one corner of the world is able to conduct business in a different part of the world. While this may seem trivial in countries where internet uptake is virtually ubiquitous, one has to keep in mind that this type of functionality benefit those individuals who do not readily have access to the internet. Or, from a different perspective: there are more mobile phones than computers and televisions combined. Bulk SMS text messaging provides unbiased communication to any device capable of sending and receiving text messages, wherever there is coverage.

Features of the International SMS Subscription Manager Plugin

Possibly one of the best features of this plugin is its simplicity: website visitors who enter their number on the website will automatically be included in the contact list. This means the website owner or webmaster simply has to type the message and send it. Contact lists can also be imported from CSV or exported to the same format. But, at the same time this does limit the functionality of address book use – split testing will be somewhat cumbersome and individual messaging is also not an option.

One further caveat is compliance with local and international messaging laws. Although laws vary from country by country, most require double opt-in (which is also good practice). This means that once a visitor has signed up online by entering his or her phone number on the website, they should receive a text message requesting a reply to complete the registration process. Seeing as the plugin operates on an “all or nothing basis” it is recommended to use a separate tool for this purpose, such as Clickatell’s Communicator 2.

Finally, in terms of features, we come to the sender ID, or “From:” number. Website owners who do not have the technical ability or the time to create their own two-way messaging applications simply need to enter their own number in the “SMS From” field. This will allow users who register to reply directly to the mobile handset of the website owner, making 1-on-1 communication possible. Note, however, that not all carriers support this function.

Installing the International SMS Subscription Manager

Installing the bulk SMS plugin can be done in a couple of easy steps requiring no intimate knowledge of the Wordpress platform:

1. Download the plugin.
2. Install it by clicking the “Add New” link under “Plugins” from the Wordpress dashboard.
3. Once the plugin has been installed and activated, locate “SMS Manager” in the the left-hand menu in Wordpress’ dashboard, expand the group (by clicking on the downward-pointing arrow) and click on “Options”
4. Simply enter all the requested details and click on “Update”.

It’s as simple as that.

Possible Installation Problems

As with any computer system, the success of the installation depends on the system’s (hosting the Wordpress platform) configuration. As a test Wordpress was installed on a normal desktop machine, using XAMPP to fulfil the server-side requirements. At the time of Wordpress installation, no modifications were made to the XAMPP platform. Installing the bulk SMS plugin produced an anomaly where the fields that required the data were populated with code. To overcome this, two small changes were made to the PHP.ini file:

1. The short_open_tag directive should be set to “On”.
2. The extension=php_curl.dll under “Windows Extensions” should be enabled by removing the leading semicolon ( ; ).

Once the above has been completed and the web server has been restarted, the bulk SMS plugin worked perfectly.

Note: Should you be experiencing any problems, it is recommended that you consult your System Administrator before making any changes to your system.

One Last Requirement

The International SMS Subscription Manager bulk SMS plugin requires a an HTTP/S API account. Once the account has been registered, all the necessary details will be provided to work with the International SMS Subscription Manager plugin.

For more information on wholesale text messaging or to register for a free HTTP/S account, visit the bulk SMS page today.

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Credit cards, retail deposit accounts and mortgages, these are the offerings the new Virgin-Citibank alliance hope to offer customers from July 2011. Although these accounts will only be accessible via the internet and Citibank’s existing call centres, uptake is expected to be positive with 500 000 new credit card customers in the medium term. A previous Westpac-Virgin credit card offering resulted in 750 000 accounts.

Can Australian banks and other financial institutions survive the oncoming storm?

It’s a near certainty that the arrival of Virgin will have a noticeable effect. How much of an effect it is, depends on the service offering local banks and institutions provide their customers with. Would customers keep on paying the same monies for a better service, or will they take the Virgin route regardless?

If the aphorism “Prevention is better than cure” is anything to go by, these financial institutions can safeguard their position with the implementation of international SMS to send out crucial, perhaps time-sensitive, information that will ultimately benefit the customer.

Keep in touch: anytime, anywhere

More than ever customers are relying on the businesses they deal with to provide them with contextually relevant information. The same is true for the banking industry; people want to know that their money is safe irrespective of their current location.

SMS text messaging therefore provides the ideal medium of business-to-consumer communication that banks can implement to stay in contact with their customers:

• Ubiquitous technology – Australian mobile penetration has already exceeded 100%. All mobile phones, whether Smartphone or feature phone, can receive SMS messages.

• Brief and to-the-point communication due to 160 character limit of single SMS text message (but messages can be spanned across multiple individual 160 character texts).

• International SMS provides a platform for cost-effective global communication.

In short, to up their game, Australian banks could increasingly provide their customers with relevant information that would make their customers’ lives better.

Get more information on International SMS for banking by downloading  the Banker’s Guide Whitepaper.

Alternatively, see which tools will provide you with reliable text messaging on our international SMS page.

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If you haven’t noticed yet, we don’t really promote our products through our blogs – they’re meant to be informative, which they are. But every once in a while it becomes apparent that a large number of people will benefit from a certain function of one of our products – and in this case it’s the ability to send automated replies through the SMS gateway.

What Is an Automated Reply?

Just to get everyone up to speed, here’s what we mean by an automated reply though the SMS gateway:

ABC Company is running a text-to-win competition where participants stand the chance to win a luxury yacht trip off the coast of Italy. All any potential winner has to do, is text his or her name to a short code. Once the user has texted their name, an automated reply is sent back to them confirming their entry as well as other relevant details. In other words, an automated reply is a mobile terminated (MT) message that is sent to a mobile device without any human interference.

Setting Your Own Automated Replies

Let’s kick off by logging into your central account. This can be done from the www.clickatell.com website. Once logged in, follow these three steps:

1. Click on the “Manage my Products” tab.
2. Select “Two-Way Messaging” from the side menu.
3. Click “Edit” next to the appropriate MO number.

If you haven’t registered for a two-way number yet, now is the time – you’ll need a valid MO number before you can send automated replies through the SMS gateway.

Once you’ve clicked on “Edit” next to the MO number you want to use, you’ll be presented with the above screen. Under “Advanced Features” you’ll be able to enter your auto reply text. This is the text that will be sent back to a user through the SMS gateway when he or she sends a message to your number.

Once you click “Commit”, that reply will be entered into the database and be sent to every inbound message. And that’s all there is to it.

For more information on two-way messaging and our application programming interfaces, navigate to our SMS gateway page.

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SMPP, or Short Message Peer-to-Peer, is a protocol designed specifically for the transmission of high volume SMS text messages. It is used by Short Message Service Centres, more commonly known as SMSCs, and by bulk SMS message providers.

So what do you need for reliable, high-volume SMPP messaging?

1. You need a permanent internet connection.

SMPP is a session-based protocol; a connection is established to a SMS gateway and kept open for as long as possible. Many bulk SMS providers will monitor this connection for up time – if a connection drops too much within a certain amount of time, the source of the disconnect will be investigated to ensure that there are no security compromises taking place.

2. You need a static IP address.

As is indicated by the name, SMPP is a peer-to-peer protocol. To facilitate the direct connection and, again, for added security, a static IP address is required. Most normal ADSL connections available from ISPs renew their IP addresses on a periodic basis, which make them unsuitable for an SMPP connection.

3. Ensure that you are using the correct version of SMPP.

Currently the most recent SMPP version is 5.0. The most widely employed versions are 3.3 and 3.4, with the main difference being that v3.3 requires a separate virtual connection for the sending and receiving of message data, while v3.4 support the BIND_TRANSCEIVER parameter (meaning that only one virtual connection is needed to both send and receive). It is recommended that you use the version your bulk SMS messaging provider uses for optimal consistency.

4. A paid email address.

In the interest of security, most bulk SMS providers with reasonable security in place will require a non-free or business email address from the entity registering for the SMPP connection. After all, since SMPP uses an internet connection for the transmission of text messages, security counts a lot!

And that, in a nutshell, is what you’ll need to be eligible for an SMPP connection. In some instances providers will require businesses to undergo a compliance test to ensure that all the above requirements are in place.

For more information about this protocol or to get your hands on some technical documentation, go to the SMPP page.

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One of the key concerns for many businesses is customer retention. This is especially important following the recession – consumers started exercising discretionary thrift, focusing on price whilst expecting the same quality. In addition, they’ve started listening more to the opinions of friends, family and 3^rd party sources. This provides a problem for those businesses who do not have appropriate customer-facing measures in place. Luckily local and international SMS text messaging can provide businesses of any size with the means to provide an improved customer service at a relatively low cost.

One of the advancing trends among consumers is the expectation of a self-service environment made available by those companies who they transact with. The reason for this is also related to the recession – job losses were a constant fear and subsequently consumers had to work harder, having less time to deal with customer service representatives of those companies they transacted with. Businesses who provided consumers with a low-touch self-service environment gave them what they wanted, thereby standing out among their competitors. How can your business stand out above your competitors with local and international SMS?

Because of the simplicity of text messaging, you can provide your customers with a customer service text messaging interface that can either handle the queries or direct them to a destination where their queries can be handled. This will give customer the opportunity to use the system in their own time and lighten the load on customer service representatives. Companies who expect high volumes and different types of messages, can provide their customers with a keyword functionality – the keyword obviously directly related to their query. Take care to note that it is important to determine which text messaging option will suit your purposes best: local or international SMS text messaging.

Things to consider include:

1. Will you require your customers to respond? If so, then you might need to register a local SMS account and a corresponding short code in each destination country.
2. If you don’t require your customers to respond (for example, if you’re going to direct them to a website) and if the bulk of your customers are local clients, then international SMS messages can be sent from your local account.

For more information, please refer to our international SMS page.

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With the release of the new iPhone 4 comes FaceTime, an addition to iPhone’s software suite that allows for face to face communication on the Smartphone’s screen. It is based on Wi-Fi and therefore won’t deplete a user’s available minutes, which is probably something many are looking forward to; it’s free communication. There are, however, some that believe it may herald the death of text messaging. Can it replace text messaging through SMS gateways?

It’s technology somewhat reminiscent of Star Trek and a number of the other futuristic television shows we all know, and wished we had at some stage. But whether it will make it as the de facto method of communication over text messaging via SMS gateways remains to be seen.

What does text messaging offer users that video can’t?

Privacy. For millions of individuals across the globe this is a big plus where text messaging is concerned. We live in the era where privacy has become even more scarce, and therefore more valuable. Where video calling has the potential to disclose the location of the participants in a conversation, text messaging has the capacity to afford the necessary privacy. SMS gateways provide communication on a medium that can be read any time, any place.

Immediacy. Text messaging saves time. It’s only 160 characters and can be opened and read in less than a minute. How long does it take to answer a voice/video call and go through all the initial formalities?

Reach. New technologies like the iPhone 4, that are unique in the features they provide, are often limited to same make and model devices (as is the case currently). In contrast, a text message sent through SMS gateways can be delivered to any mobile phone currently in use (excluding some of the initial models that may be found in museums nowadays).

While I am also eagerly awaiting the release of the iPhone 4 packed with all those exciting new features, one has to keep in mind that the best method of communication is not necessarily the newest, but the most prevalent. Applications like FaceTime still have a long way to go in terms of application and adaption before it will become as ubiquitous as text messaging through SMS gateways. And until such time, just remember that the iPhone 4 and all other phone models still have the ability to send and receive SMS text messages.

For more information about the technologies you can use to connect to your customers through text messaging, just go to our SMS gateways page.

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