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Web SMS Overview: Send SMS Online
Introduction
Web SMS is an online application for the sending and receiving of SMS Text Messages directly from your browser. There is no hardware or software to install and no security settings to change, just use your existing browser to handle your SMS messaging needs whether this is for business or personal use.
Costings overview
To send SMS online you will need a SMS sending account; A Standard account is FREE to set up and use just pre-purchase a block of messages before use. A standard account will give you all you need to compose and send SMS online to over 130 networks worldwide in addition to creating & editing contacts and distribution lists and importing contacts from other applications. For more advanced features and lower messaging costs then a professional account is required.
Installing and Registration
There is nothing to install but you will need to register a free account. If you do not already have an account with us click "sign up" to get started.
Compose and send SMS Online
If you are familiar with Web based email, such as Hotmail or Gmail then you will have no problems composing and sending SMS online with Web SMS.
(Click image to enlarge)
To compose and send SMS online is very easy; simply enter the name or name fragment (to auto resolve) of a contact or distribution list or enter the number in international format or select a contact from the drop down list or select a distribution list containing many contacts; enter your message and click "send" it's that simple. Messages are received within seconds using high quality routes to ensure delivery.
Importing contacts
If you have contact records stored in other databases or "Personal Information Management" programs then you have the ability to export data to a CSV file format. Using this file format you import contacts into our system. Standard users can have a maximum of 50 contacts on their account where as professional users can have up to 5000 (for more than 5000 there would be a nominal storage charge). A simple Wizard guides you through the process of importing your data asking various questions and helping you map fields in your file with those on our system. Once imported your contacts can be arranged on multiple distribution lists for maximum flexibility and organisational necessity. When importing data the Wizard will reformat all mobile numbers into international format which is required in order to send SMS messages. This process is seamless and essential if your data is stored in inconsistant state.
Screen shots
Click on any of the images below to see a screen shot of the system in use.
| SMS Inbox | Contact | Inbound Options | Contact List |
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Extra large SMS and Flash messages
Having just 160 characters can be restrictive when you have more to say. Web SMS can send a single message up to 38,250 characters in length so you can really get your message across. A large message is broken down and sent in multiple messages, these multiple messages are then reformed on a users handset and displayed as one long message. Not all handsets support this feature and you will be billed for each multiple message sent. Flash messaging is enabled with Web SMS, when using flash the delivered message will appear instantly on the users handset without the need to open their inbox. There is a downside in that received flash messages cannot be saved and if the user receives another flash message soon after the first message; the original one is overwritten.
Easy addressing of SMS Text Messages
New to this type of web application is the inclusion of an Auto Resolve feature for addressing text messages. Working very much like an auto resolve feature in email where you enter the name of contact or fragment of a name when composing a message then allowing the application to resolve the name to stored contact record or distribution list. The auto resolve feature dramatically speeds up the composing and sending of messages especially if you are in a hurry to send out an urgent SMS text message. A cut and paste feature is also available for when you have a lot of numbers stored in Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word that you want to send to. By using the import via clipboard feature you can add these numbers quickly to your SMS messages.
SMS Scheduler
Scheduling your SMS messages for delivery date and time in the future is very easy. Selecting the delay delivery option on the ribbonbar when sending your message tells the receiving network to store your message until the date & time you scheduled. This is a fantastic feature for reminding clients of upcoming appointments or if you need to schedule a marketing message for a particular time of day.
Do you want to supersize your order?
There are various upgrades available to you to get even more out of Web SMS, unlocking large amounts of functionality. For example replies to messages sent online can be received directly to your mobile device when using the standard and professional versions, alternatively for a more complete solution then you can acquire a dedicated number (from us) to receive SMS replies. Inbound messages can then be sent to your online inbox, an email address, another mobile number (effectively SMS forwarding) or to another application. In addition Web SMS can capture sender information of inbound SMS and store as a new contact and assign the new contact to a distribution list. This opens up so many possibilities, maximising the potential of what you can do. Or how about going large on your dedicated inbound number and adding full SMS keyword capabilities. Inbound SMS containing certain defined keywords can be handled differently as per your instructions; so for example messages with certain keywords can be sent to different relevant departments or a sepcific autoresponder can be created and returned for each keyword.
Future Direction
The following features are not in the current version but will appear in future releases:
- Send SMS to a mobile number or telephone number or email address or all three simultaneously
- Mail merging message templates
- Send MMS
- Wap Push
- Support for more networks most notably USA & Canada
- Auto synchronisation of contacts with other popular databases & PIM's like MS Outlook and Capita's School Information Management System (SIMS)
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