looking for decent inbound SMS gateway

[SoftDux-Rudi]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a decent inbound SMS gateway, if anyone has a recommendation for me?

Basically it would be used as a service where a client SMS's into a number, and an operator responds via SMS - BUT, I don't want the SMS's to goto a cellphone or simcard, but rather to some piece software. I don't want a premium number, just a normal number with normal SMS costs.

Clickatell is simply too expensive for this to be decently profitable, so please don't recommend them. Any other suggestions are welcome.

[SoftDux-Rudi]

Can anyone help me with this?

[mzee]

you could look at www.kannel.org maybe? Depending on your chops(and volume), you could write an application to interface with the sms gateway and just plug in an modem/cellphone as your bridge to the GSM network.

[SoftDux-Rudi]

Thanx,

I was actually referring to a gateway provider
i.e. I need to receive SMS via someone's network, but without being tied to a cellphone or simcard. The SMS's should come through to a software application (which could be anything really, kannel.org could even work for this)

[nic777]

Does it have to be a SA number? I know that you can buy a number from BulkSMS UK (UK division of SA company) and it will be in +44 long number (normal number) format. We used it a couple of years ago, not sure if it still exists.

Reading your post again, if you only want SA based numbers, you can use BulkSMS and they have non-premiun (i.e. normal SMS costs) short codes as well.

[SoftDux-Rudi]

Yes, it has to be a S.A. number, and not an expensive premium number. Just a normal number. I spoke to BulkSMS already and they couldn't really help me with what I needed. For their system I need to pay for every incoming SMS, which is just stupid.

[cbrunsdonza]

Yes, it has to be a S.A. number, and not an expensive premium number. Just a normal number. I spoke to BulkSMS already and they couldn't really help me with what I needed. For their system I need to pay for every incoming SMS, which is just stupid.

Hi, I work for a WASP and can honestly say that your not going to find any WASP offering you this service. Normally you would get a nominal rated service which has no revenue share for you and minimal monthly costs to cover the overheads of running the service (ie, bandwidth, support, etc). Now this is great if your doing a couple of 100K volumes per month.

Another option is to roll your own.

Kannel is great and there are some gurus out their that can slap together a gateway turn key solution for you. Check out LINUX forums.

[SoftDux-Rudi]

you raise a valid point.

But, how do I obtain a number, and route it on our networks? That's the part that I don't understand? And I don't think I'll get 100K SMS's per month. I need it to keep track of certain stuff, so it won't make any money thus I need to keep the costs low.

[stefanosessa]

Hey man,

Have a look at Panacea Mobile's Inbound Messaging. They have outbound and inbound capability. Can get an SA number (MTN) for you and you will pay R400 setup fee and R250 per month).



You can post these messages via HTTP.