API to access SMS

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › API to access SMS

gchiu

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#79359 16-Mar-2011 22:00

Is there a web service to send ( not to receive ) SMS on this network?

At present I use Skype's Skype4com library but am wondering if there are any plans to provide a local service.

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Snowflake

#449078 17-Mar-2011 00:08

do you need to send it through the 2degrees network specifically? there are plenty of SMS gateway companies that can sell you service with various APIs available including Web Services and SMPP along with Email to SMS. Bulletin Wireless, SMS Global to name a couple.

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SaltyNZ

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#449108 17-Mar-2011 08:04

Regs: do you need to send it through the 2degrees network specifically? there are plenty of SMS gateway companies that can sell you service with various APIs available including Web Services and SMPP along with Email to SMS. Bulletin Wireless, SMS Global to name a couple.

Correct. We do not recommend you use any of the cut-price international providers. Their service to our network may be... interrupted... from time to time, as we catch them, as they are generally responsible for bulk spam.

But there are plenty of local companies who would be more than happy to work with you, and also give you access to Telecom and Vodafone via the same link. They are also responsible for sorting out number portability for you.

A non-exhaustive list of the good guys - who follow the TCF codes on mobile messaging - can be found here.

EDIT: seems their page has not been updated in some time. I see *we* are not on it! Doh.

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gchiu

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#449112 17-Mar-2011 08:19

Going thru 3rd parties seems to add cost to the process. A web based API is a simple thing to provide ...

SaltyNZ

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#449115 17-Mar-2011 08:23

gchiu: Going thru 3rd parties seems to add cost to the process. A web based API is a simple thing to provide ...

Ah. I see you've never worked for a telco. ;-)

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SteveON

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#449159 17-Mar-2011 11:03

gchiu: Going thru 3rd parties seems to add cost to the process. A web based API is a simple thing to provide ...

I love this guy.

SaltyNZ

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#449161 17-Mar-2011 11:09

SteveON:

I love this guy.

'Seems simple' is nature's way of telling you that you haven't thought it through yet.

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gchiu

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#449165 17-Mar-2011 11:21

Some telcos in NZ offer web to text ... and I'd imagine it's not too difficult to offer a SOAP or REST api to the same service.

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nate

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#449167 17-Mar-2011 11:25

Clickatell offer a good service to deliver SMS, have used them for years to send SMS to Telecom/Vodafone/2degrees with no issues.

You are correct that NZ based SMS APIs are expensive, but you do get what you pay for - generally more reliable, quicker delivery, plus you can easily handle replies.

Some months back I enquired about a SMPP interface to 2degrees, hoping that they would pass SMS through to the other providers, but it doesn't work like that. If you wanted to go down this route (SMPP is designed for huge concurrent streams of SMS) you'd need a SMPP interface with all three telecos which will be expensive.

It all really depends on what you are trying to achieve, budget, required stability etc. You could do a quick n dirty DIY API - plug a cellphone into a computer, and write your own gateway.

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#449172 17-Mar-2011 11:28

gchiu: Some telcos in NZ offer web to text ... and I'd imagine it's not too difficult to offer a SOAP or REST api to the same service.

Indeed they do! For which you will pay retail, i.e. far more than you would by going to an SMS provider as originally suggested. But by all means, go ahead if you wish.

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SaltyNZ

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#449174 17-Mar-2011 11:29

nate: Clickatell offer a good service to deliver SMS, have used them for years to send SMS to Telecom/Vodafone/2degrees with no issues.

They are also one of the ones that we find are responsible for lots of spam. Your success to 2degrees is therefore lucky, but by no means assured, when using these guys, which is all I will say about them.

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SteveON

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#449175 17-Mar-2011 11:29

Someone needs a hug from the "That shouldn't be too hard" police!

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#449176 17-Mar-2011 11:31

SteveON: Someone needs a hug from the "That shouldn't be too hard" police!

Awww.... @----->---

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Kyanar

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#449177 17-Mar-2011 11:31

nate: Clickatell offer a good service to deliver SMS, have used them for years to send SMS to Telecom/Vodafone/2degrees with no issues.

You are correct that NZ based SMS APIs are expensive, but you do get what you pay for - generally more reliable, quicker delivery, plus you can easily handle replies.

Some months back I enquired about a SMPP interface to 2degrees, hoping that they would pass SMS through to the other providers, but it doesn't work like that. If you wanted to go down this route (SMPP is designed for huge concurrent streams of SMS) you'd need a SMPP interface with all three telecos which will be expensive.

It all really depends on what you are trying to achieve, budget, required stability etc. You could do a quick n dirty DIY API - plug a cellphone into a computer, and write your own gateway.

Clickatell's service is constantly being terminated to the NZ Telcos, and when I used them I was frequently having to contact them to advise their routing to NZ (mostly Telecom) was broken, requiring them to spend weeks altering their paths to ensure delivery again. Their service was often delaying message delivery as well. Very much as you say - you get what you pay for.

If you're wanting to deliver relatively cheaply, I'd go with someone like Net24, who resell Message Media (but because they essentially resell you a subaccount, don't pass on the setup fee).

gchiu

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#449192 17-Mar-2011 12:09

I've also been using clickatell for the last few years but the originating phone no is from the UK ( I think, or is it SA ), and people reply to it which means I don't get the replies. And sometimes they don't even get them .. so now I know why.

I'm just sending out appointment reminders to people ... I could use Skype but they changed their API in January so the from address is now my Skype username and not the phone no.

Oh well ... serial cable + phone maybe what I have to do .... I'm not interested in paying for the high prices from the 3rd parties, and their large setup fees.

nate

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#449205 17-Mar-2011 12:37

SaltyNZ:
nate: Clickatell offer a good service to deliver SMS, have used them for years to send SMS to Telecom/Vodafone/2degrees with no issues.

They are also one of the ones that we find are responsible for lots of spam. Your success to 2degrees is therefore lucky, but by no means assured, when using these guys, which is all I will say about them.

Fair comment, and I can understand why people would spam through them - they are cheap.

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