Send an SMS to a PC

[Moederloos]

I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction here!

I want to set up a SMS number (let us say 27721119999) that will respond to a message a user sends. I then need that to trigger a PHP script that can handle the message and send an appropriate response.

In essence, the user will send a message stating an account number and a password, I will parse that and reply to the account holders cell number stating the account balance (note: I reply to the registered cell # of the account, not necessarily the cell phone that I received the message from.) I am capable of handling everything from the moment the script is activated, including delivery of the SMS.

I just have no idea how to set up the PC to receive the message. Ideally I want to either register with a provider that can pass the message to me, or use an existing cell phone and bluetooth etc. I do not want to have to buy dedicated hardware (the service is not a money generator and I do not want to throw a lot of money at it ).

Premium rated SMS is an option, but too expensive for this service.

Any ideas welcomed!

 

[adsl3g]

a great program for this would be NowSMS - but it costs a great deal of money - so its not going to work for you.

 

[Moederloos]

a great program for this would be NowSMS - but it costs a great deal of money - so its not going to work for you.

ok - but what is the hardware requirements to get it t work.
in other words, how does the PC actually "get" the SMS?

 

[mccrack]

Try contacting Stouf for a possible solution.

We had a GSM modem configured which sent out sms's when servers failed. But there was the ability to perform certain tasks when the GSM modem receive messages .....

 

[hsmnel]

PM me, might be able to help

 

[wab512]

Us Kannel (www.kannel.org). It's an open source wap/sms gateway. It runs on Linux and you can connect to either a GSM Phone/Modem or a SMPP account at a network. You can set it up to call your PHP script and pass the message to it when received.
I use it and it works great!

 

[bboy]

www.clickatell.co.za is the right thing.. but costs money

else u need to attach a cell to the pc

 

[DBrasco]

I've done a similar thing before - we bought a GSM modem (+-R1500) that was attached to the serial port of the computer. We then wrote a service (in VB) that listens on the comm port and receives the messages off the modem. Depending on the message, you would then do an action and send a response msg.

It worked, but it took a fair amount of work (basically a mish) - but the positive point is that once you have purchased the modem, there are no monthly running costs except the SMS's you send.

 

[shubeer]

Kannel

Us Kannel (www.kannel.org). It's an open source wap/sms gateway. It runs on Linux and you can connect to either a GSM Phone/Modem or a SMPP account at a network. You can set it up to call your PHP script and pass the message to it when received.
I use it and it works great!

hello wab512

i've recently downloaded and installed kannel and am fascinated with the possibilities that exist with this software.

what i would like to know is, is it possible to use kannel in conjunction with a 3g data card (as supplied with vodacom) to send the sms.

much appreciated
shubeer

 

[walterl]

We also did what Dbrasco said...and it wasn't really that much work either.

 

[wab512]

hello wab512

i've recently downloaded and installed kannel and am fascinated with the possibilities that exist with this software.

what i would like to know is, is it possible to use kannel in conjunction with a 3g data card (as supplied with vodacom) to send the sms.

much appreciated
shubeer

Hi shubeer,

Yes, once you get to know the software there are lots and lots of possibilities that comes to mind ;-)

Do you mean that you want to use the data card as the 'modem'? I am pretty sure that it will be possible although I have not tried it yet. I believe that you can communicate with the data card through AT commands and if this is the case it should be possible.

Will have a look if I can get some more information on it

wab