NZ SMS API Provider

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snowfly

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#110485 10-Oct-2012 08:21

Can anyone recommend a reliable NZ based SMS provider for sending SMS via an API?
(to Vodafone/2Degrees mobiles)

For work we are on the lookout for something to link into Nagios/Munin (for server SMS alerts), and a support ticket system (for ticket alerts).

Needs to have an API (HTTP or REST or some other URL method)
Also not too expensive, and pre-pay and not a monthly fee (as some months may be hundreds of messages, other months may only be 10 messages).

Thanks

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Biddle Corp

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#698862 10-Oct-2012 08:38

The "not too expensive" pretty much ruled out every solution on the market.

The best approach is to deploy your own solution. Buy a ~$50 GSM modem and nowsms and deploy your own gateway. I've run my own SMS gateway using nowsms for about 6 or 7 years now.

snowfly

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#698866 10-Oct-2012 09:09

Sorry I should clarify when I say "not too expensive", I mean cheaper cost per SMS than using standard network SMS rates via a phone.
Is that possible?
Or as you say is it cheaper to just buy (for example) a 2Degrees $10 txt pack on a pre-pay sim, and put in a GSM modem?

Ragnor

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#698984 10-Oct-2012 11:32

$10 NZD/month for 25 txt, 18c NZD per message above that
http://www.net24.co.nz/iSMS-gateway/api-sms.php

$45 NZD /month for 500 txt
http://www.onewaysms.co.nz/sms-web-solution.aspx

There are heaps of overseas ones like SMSGlobal, Clickatell, Bulletin but they may have trouble sending to ported numbers.

openmedia

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#698987 10-Oct-2012 11:41

Ragnor: $10 NZD/month for 25 txt, 18c NZD per message above that
http://www.net24.co.nz/iSMS-gateway/api-sms.php

$45 NZD /month for 500 txt
http://www.onewaysms.co.nz/sms-web-solution.aspx

There are heaps of overseas ones like SMSGlobal, Clickatell, Bulletin but they may have trouble sending to ported numbers.

Bulletin are based in NZ and have local connections with all the carriers. There shouldn't be any issues with number ports.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

eXDee

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#698995 10-Oct-2012 11:53

snowfly: Or as you say is it cheaper to just buy (for example) a 2Degrees $10 txt pack on a pre-pay sim, and put in a GSM modem?

Do this tbh.

freitasm

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#699000 10-Oct-2012 12:01

Ragnor: $10 NZD/month for 25 txt, 18c NZD per message above that
http://www.net24.co.nz/iSMS-gateway/api-sms.php

That's $0.40 per SMS (up to 25) then the same $ 0.18 standard price per message telcos charge casual consumers.

Pretty expensive.

I can't understand why NZ SMS gateways can't get better prices, since they obviously buy in bulk.

And the fact local telcos prevent local customers from receiving SMS from overseas gateways when a local number is present in the ID just tells me they are protecting a very expensive market for their partners.

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Ragnor

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#699011 10-Oct-2012 12:15

openmedia:

Bulletin are based in NZ and have local connections with all the carriers. There shouldn't be any issues with number ports.

Isn't it a US company with a local offices around the place including NZ?

Good that they have local connections though.

14c USD per message
https://www.bulletin.net/pricing.html

CYaBro

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#699023 10-Oct-2012 12:24

We use Clickatell ourselves to send job updates to customers from our job tracking system.
Costs bugger all to send a text, can't remember exactly but I think it's around 5c per text depending on which network you are sending to.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

freitasm

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#699025 10-Oct-2012 12:25

Clickatell will work providing you the sender ID is not set to a +64 number.

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#699031 10-Oct-2012 12:33

freitasm: Clickatell will work providing you the sender ID is not set to a +64 number.

What do you mean? They allowed us to set the sender ID as our business name so when a text arrives on a phone it just has our company name and no number associated with it.
We don't need people replying to the texts.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

freitasm

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#699032 10-Oct-2012 12:36

That's fine. I have one set as "Geekzone" and it works fine. If you verify a local mobile number you can use that as the sender ID - and those are the ones blocked.

It's obvious the local telcos are not playing nice when they say they are blocking those with local numbers sent from overseas gateways as they could be spam - ANY SMS could be spam, but they don't block the ones with overseas numbers of names (such as your company's or "Geekzone"). It's my opinion they just want to save the market of local numbers for local partners.

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#699063 10-Oct-2012 13:15

openmedia:
Ragnor: $10 NZD/month for 25 txt, 18c NZD per message above that
http://www.net24.co.nz/iSMS-gateway/api-sms.php

$45 NZD /month for 500 txt
http://www.onewaysms.co.nz/sms-web-solution.aspx

There are heaps of overseas ones like SMSGlobal, Clickatell, Bulletin but they may have trouble sending to ported numbers.

Bulletin are based in NZ and have local connections with all the carriers. There shouldn't be any issues with number ports.

I've used the bulletin API plenty, with no troubles.

I think they were a NZ company that went global, not a US company.

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snowfly

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#699072 10-Oct-2012 13:36

Has anyone tried or heard of Kiwilink's SMS offering: http://kiwilink.co.nz/sms.php

They appear cost effective, but when checking their SMS guide (http://kiwilink.co.nz/SMSGuide.pdf) the web interface appears to use an IP which traces back to India: http://121.241.242.114/websms/kiwilink
Wonder if the messages are reliable, may ask them for a trial.

nate

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#699262 10-Oct-2012 18:07

sbiddle: The best approach is to deploy your own solution.

I would disagree. Commercial gateways have speed and reliability on their side. Power/network outage at your place and your GSM modem is out for the count.

CYaBro: They allowed us to set the sender ID as our business name so when a text arrives on a phone it just has our company name and no number associated with it.

Try sending a message to an 027. Telecom replace the sender ID with a +44 number. If you txt a ported number, the message also doesn't go through.

Unfortunately you can't have cheap and reliable. Pick one.

Like sbiddle, I rolled my own GSM gateway and wrote some custom software to run it. Currently it sits on a Vodafone Prepay sim, and I pay .25 cents per message ($12/5000 txt).

More info here.

freitasm

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#699263 10-Oct-2012 18:09

nate: Currently it sits on a Vodafone Prepay sim, and I pay .25 cents per message ($12/5000 txt).

That's is equivalent to NZ$ 0.0025 for those in doubt ;)

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