How to send/receive SMS messages from a PC

Forums › Off topic › How to send/receive SMS messages from a PC

robjg63

3000 posts

Uber Geek

# 77856 23-Feb-2011 12:13

Hi,
I have had a quick look and didn't find anything on this site or Telecom/Vodafone - presumably I am using the wrong terms!

At my work we have a need for the basic ability to send and receive SMS messages.
On occasion we may have to send around 30 messages (say the same message) to a group of customers in a day.
Likewise they may text us back so we would like to be able to view the messages on a PC.

I am sure I found a service that Vodafone/Telecom provided a few years ago that would do this via a web portal - cant find them now. Anyone know if this sort of thing is still available?

The other option I figured (really basic) is a mobile phone that is hooked up with a USB cable to a PC application. The application would have a maintainable list of contacts (like outlook) and would use the phone to send the messages to one or a group of contacts. Anyone know of something like this (makes/models of phones and software in use would be really helpful).

Any advice gratefully received.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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426 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Spark NZ

Lifetime subscriber

# 442709 23-Feb-2011 12:16

Here is the Telecom service;
http://www.telecom.co.nz/etext

The comments I write on this forum do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer and as such cannot be taken as official statements of my employer.

Dingbatt

4130 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 442711 23-Feb-2011 12:19

and here is the vodafone service

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/txt-and-pxt/txt/web2txt.jsp

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

b0untypure1

1415 posts

Uber Geek

# 442713 23-Feb-2011 12:21

i know my brothers telecom R100 has the capability to be plugged into the pc via USB and txts can be sent and received via the pc for free. WOW! that etxt service is expensive..

robjg63

3000 posts

Uber Geek

# 442724 23-Feb-2011 12:41

Thanks for the replies so far.

Hey Bountypure1 - do you know what software your brother is using by any chance?
I had already thought that consireing the pretty small volumes we would be looking at a phone plugged into a PC would probably be fine.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

robjg63

3000 posts

Uber Geek

# 442733 23-Feb-2011 13:00

Ah - the R100 has software with it called Joinme - thats what your bro will be using.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

cisconz

cisconz
1222 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 442740 23-Feb-2011 13:25

Nokia ovi suite will do it.

Hmmmm

b0untypure1

1415 posts

Uber Geek

# 442756 23-Feb-2011 14:23

robjg63: Ah - the R100 has software with it called Joinme - thats what your bro will be using.

that is correct sir

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 442834 23-Feb-2011 17:09

Check out Myphoneexplorer http://www.fjsoft.at/en/ you can send texts from Sony Ericsson and Android phones from you PC using either a cable or bluetooth.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 442983 24-Feb-2011 10:52

Just use these guys, www.fishtext.com

You can buy a virtual NZ number and send SMS's from there from any web browser. You can also receive sms's on that number. The rates are far cheaper than anything you going to get locally.

b0untypure1

1415 posts

Uber Geek

# 442984 24-Feb-2011 10:58

they are much cheaper, which will help if you are texting masses of people

jbard

1371 posts

Uber Geek

# 442991 24-Feb-2011 11:22

BraaiGuy: Just use these guys, www.fishtext.com

You can buy a virtual NZ number and send SMS's from there from any web browser. You can also receive sms's on that number. The rates are far cheaper than anything you going to get locally.

Hmm just tried to sign up and they said they sent my PIN by text but it hasn't arrived and it's been 20 mins now.

Maybe it is something to do with them telling me i was on Telecom but my number is actually ported to 2degrees?

Will give it a little while longer before requesting them to resend it.

b0untypure1

1415 posts

Uber Geek

# 442993 24-Feb-2011 11:27

jbard has gone business-like :)

(looking at your new picture)

jbard

1371 posts

Uber Geek

# 443006 24-Feb-2011 11:38

b0untypure1: jbard has gone business-like :)

(looking at your new picture)

Haha, i just discovered Androidify last night - it's quite good fun actually.
I was going for the men in Black look :0

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 443008 24-Feb-2011 11:50

jbard:
BraaiGuy: Just use these guys, www.fishtext.com

You can buy a virtual NZ number and send SMS's from there from any web browser. You can also receive sms's on that number. The rates are far cheaper than anything you going to get locally.

Hmm just tried to sign up and they said they sent my PIN by text but it hasn't arrived and it's been 20 mins now.

Maybe it is something to do with them telling me i was on Telecom but my number is actually ported to 2degrees?

Will give it a little while longer before requesting them to resend it.

Did you use the international code? 6421XXXX etc?

I made that mistake the first time

jbard

1371 posts

Uber Geek

# 443010 24-Feb-2011 11:52

Yeah i use 6427XXXXXX

maybe i needed to do +6427XXXXX

surely the + doesn't make a difference though?

Have requested a resend about 30 mins ago - but still nothing.

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