What can you use to get an application to be able to receive SMS message?

Question

• Do you need to use some kind of provider?
• Can you setup your own SMS server?
• Does any open source solutions exist?

I am an SMS newbie so

Answer 1

This is easy. Yes, you need a "sms gateway" provider. There are a lot out there. These companies provide APIs for you to send/receive SMS.

e.g. the German company Mobilant provides an easy API. If you want to receive a SMS just program a simple PHP / JSP / s.th.else dynamic web page and let Mobilant call it.

e.g.

• Mobilant receives a SMS for you
• Mobilant calls your web page http://yourpage.com/receive.php?message=...
• You do what you need to do

You really don't want to setup your own SMS Server or Center ;-) This is really expensive, takes months to setup and costs some nice ferraris.

Use a provider and pay per SMS. It's the cheapest and fastest way.