Online SMS FAQ

• What is SMS?
  SMS stands for Short Message Service and is a means to send 160 characters of text (including space, punctuation and returns).
• How can I send Online SMS?
  You need a messaging system, such as txt4ever, where you can send from one to many recipients. For more information please see our txt4ever FAQ.
• What is bulk SMS?
  Bulk SMS is the facility to send text messages through the internet to mobile handsets. It is called bulk because it is purchased in large quantities from the mobile network operators, although it may be resold through online systems in smaller quantities.
• Are all bulk text messages the same quality?
  Bulk SMS quality can vary in a number of ways. The main issues are speed of delivery, and facilities for dynamic sender ID and message receipts (see below). Essentially all gateways that connect to mobile networks should be able to offer both fast delivery - just milliseconds to reach the operator - and sender ID and delivery receipts. Some low cost messages offer much slower connections and may not include receipts or sender IDs. These tend to be because they do not connect directly to the home network, but use some form of interworking agreement.
• What is an SMS gateway?
  An SMS gateway is an interface between the internet and the mobile operators for sending text messages. They are the means by which bulk SMS can be sent.
• What is a WAP Push message?
  A WAP Push is an SMS with 160 characters, but it is formatted as a service message. This message prompts the mobile recipient to open a URL. It is a common method of sending mobile internet links or content to phones.
• What is a Sender ID, or Dynamic Sender ID?
  The Sender ID is the number that an SMS has come from. This can be 12 numbers or letter, but punctuation cannot be used. Dynamic Sender ID's are useful in bulk SMS so that either a reply number or company name can be sent in the message.
• What is an SMS shortcode?
  Shortcodes are 4,5 or 6 digit numbers which allow users to easily send an SMS. They are offered through bulk SMS systems either as a shared or dedicated code. Shared codes arose because the cost of a dedicated code (around £750 per month).
• What is a Premium Rate SMS
  A premium rate SMS or PSMS is a message that is charged to the mobile user. There are strict regulations covering PSMS, including the advertising, subscriptions, legal wording and structure of the message. Premium SMS can only be sent to a user if a request was received by SMS to a shortcode from that user. PSMS is regulated by PhonePayPlus. For more information on PSMS please see their website: phonepayplus.org.uk.
• How do I know if a message has been delivered?
  Bulk SMS usually includes a delivery receipt. These confirm that a message has been delivered to a mobile handset, or if it has failed.
• Why do text messages fail?
  There are a variety of reasons for messages to fail and fall into temporary or permanent categories. Temporary failures are where the SMS inbox is full or phone has been turned off or is out of range for a significant time. Usually around three days.
  Permanent SMS failure statuses include unknown subscribers, handsets blocked for SMS or network failures.
• Do many messages fail?
  On the whole SMS is very reliable. Network failures account for a tiny percentage of messages, less that 1%, and the remaining failures depend on the particular numbers. For a large campaign sent to verified mobile numbers, the failure rate would usually be 1-2%.
• How do I send pictures by SMS?
  It was MMS, Multi Media Message Service, that was designed to send pictures, video or audio. However with bulk SMS, many people choose to send a WAP push message as it is approximately one third of the cost of an MMS.
• Can I send non-Latin characters by SMS?
  Non-Latin characters include languages such as Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic or Hindi. Almost all networks can deal with messages sent in a format called UTF-8, which would allow messages to be delivered in a non-Latin script.