Training on SMS App - Anjesh Tuladhar

SMS based Application

Anjesh TuladharYoungInnovations

Some statsMobile users: 84.03%

Internet users: 33.76%

NTA MIS, Jul 2014

Breakdown of Internet users

ADSL

Cable Modem

CDMA 1X, EVDO

Dialup (PSTN +ISDN)

GPRS,EDGE,WCDMA

WiMAX

Wireless Modem, Optical Fibre Ethernet

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

9,000,000

114,673

31,727

193,317

14,821

8,518,094

9,633

64,304

Smart phone users?

TargetUsers• Foreigners• Locals by geographic location

– Rural– Urban

• Locals by age group– Teenagers– Adults

Locations• Urban• Rural• Rural without 3G/internet

SMS might be one of the options based on your target users andtarget locations

What can you do with SMS• Users can request for information/services• System can send SMS alerts and other

information

Push SMSPush (outbound) sends SMS from your system

ApplicationServer

SMS Gateway

Telecom Mobile

API call SMS

Pull SMSPull (inbound) receives SMS from the mobile

ApplicationServer

SMS Gateway

Telecom Mobile

API call SMS

Simple quick solution with SMSSync

SMSsync is a simple, yet powerful SMS to HTTP sync utility that turns any Android phone into a local SMS gateway

How SMSSync works?

ApplicationServer

Android Mobilewith smssync Telecom Mobile

Http call SMSSMS

SMSSync shortcomings• Requires an extra SIM card and android mobile• Might not handle huge number of SMS • Need to recharge the account on a constant

basic if you regularly send SMS from it• The mobile number will be 10 digit

Working with VAS• Value Added Services (VAS) provides SMS

services on behalf of telecom operators• you can get 4 digit shortcode

How SMS Gateway works?

ApplicationServer

SMS Gateway(E.g. Kannel)

Telecom Mobile

Http call SMSVPN

Advantages of shortcode• Easy to remember 4 digit numbers• VAS should provide APIs to send and receive

SMS• You could set price for each SMS • Will work for huge number of concurrent SMS

Example code to send SMS

VAS providers• Sparrow SMS• Digitainment• F1-soft• Focus one• Mercantile• …

API docs available for Sparrow SMS

https://api.sparrowsms.com/platform/docs

Other possibilities• Global companies but will be expensive

Challenges with SMS based solutions

• Characters limit• Extra Cost• Content security• Language• Reliability

Thank you