Creating Your Own GSM SMS Server

Short Message Service (SMS) is one of GSM killer application that brought from first generation and remain its popularity even now we're at 3G where support broadband data access. When GSM technology and infrastructure just have laid in Indonesia, all telecommunication company (telco) still count on voice call as main revenue sources. Now, SMS revenue is one of a main income for every telco beside voice call and VAS. And now, I believe now not less than 50 percent mobile user spent more time and money on typing max 160 chars message with tiny keypad than communicating by voice call.

As the SMS technology become easiest way to spread message in text, there's a lot side product inovation based on SMS. One of it, SMS VAS (Premium SMS), which is using special assigned number (shortcode), where require special connection to telco to operate it. But for most user/company, dont require to use these kind of number to make your own SMS Server. SMS Server here mean, an application that can send, receive, broadcast, auto-reply SMS through PC. And the service should be able to accessed by networked computer (intranet or internet).

By setup an SMS server, you can open a new channel to communicatio with your client, partner as well a SMS hotline instead of only voice call hotline. It's very easy and affordable as you just need these simple tool/application :

1. A GSM handset with connection to PC. I recommend it uses wired connection than any wireless (IR or bluetooth) connection. Because we need a stable connection all the time. I prefer use NOKIA with DCT cable (monochrom Nokia phone e.g. 5510, 6610, 3210, 3310, etc).
2. Application for read/send SMS from handset. I use Gammu, as it free and stable.
3. A PC with Apache, PHP, MySQL installed as storage server and application server. LAN or internet connection required if you wish this system accessible from outside.

The main idea is read the sms in phone inbox and save to a database server. To send SMS, the agent simply read messages queue in outbox (at database) and push them to phone to be deliver as SMS. And as add-in to the main system module, we can plug (develop) an Auto-reply and message broadcast module. There's also phone book, accounting and report module can be added to system core.

Although all the third party application used here freeware (except if you use Windows Server, for example), but not my application itself. So if you need more detail about this system and how this system can help you, simply drop me a comment.