Text message notifications

[Saucepan]

Hi!

I want to notify people in my database by sending them an text message (SMS) to their phone when something relevant is updated. For instace if a customer changes phonenumber my sales force will get an instant message to thier phone with the name if the customer and the updated phonenumber. I know how to do this using e-mails, now i just want to know if its possible to do the samething with textmessages? Little help plz; is it even possible?

Tnx!

[mr_vodka]

Well you will have to use a SMS gateway most likely. I am not sure how your provider works, but most of the companies in the US provide a gateway. For example to SMS a person with the telephone number, 555-555-5555, if they were a Verizon user, it would be something like: [email protected] or AT&T [email protected].

I am not sure which mobile providers all of your employees use and if all of them have their own gateways.

If not, then you may have to use a gateway service ( small charge for each msg) such as:

http://www.clickatell.com/

http://www.42it.eu

[Saucepan]

Thank you!

That is awesome! The thing i really wanted to know was if it at all was possible, and according to you it is? Could you (or someone else) please provide me with some sample code just to show me what a "Send text message" button would look like? - is it just the regular send email code but to a specific SMS mail? If so, there would be no problems for me to write something like "Hi "$name"! This update... " to be albbe to switch names right?

Im located in Sweden and will defenetly look into the diffrent providers to se what kind of different alternativs is awailable. If there is a swede out there who could give me a tip I would be most grateful!

Edited April 6, 2009 by Guest

[mr_vodka]

I would probably find out your region's specification first before looking for an answer since it can vary by provider.

[Saucepan]

would you know... sweden, self proclaimed communicationcapital of the world, does not seem to have any form of support for this type of service?!?

i have been on hte phone with different phonecompanies all day today, and non has hade any clue as to what im talking about... amazing...

i just had a small question for though; now, when u say "if they were a Verizon user" i pressume that it is the employee you are refering to? not my internet provider - right?

[Søren Dyhr]

Well if you go to this URL:

http://www.42it.se/Mobila_System/SMS/

...is it apparently possible??

--sd

[mr_vodka]

Yes. It depends on each individual's mobile phone provider.

[Saucepan]

tnx sören, seems to be right... ill check it out tomorrow and let you guys know how it turned out.

[Lee Brock]

What did you guys find out? I was thinking of the same thing, but I have a few hundred clients and no clue which mobile phone service provider each of them has.

But from with in iChat, I can send an sms to any of my buddies whose mobile numbers I have and I don't need to know their providers.

I hope I'm not hijacking this topic-I can start a new thread if that would be better. Thanks