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

Try SMS Enabler software. To receive SMS messages it uses a 3G/4G/GSM USB modem connected to a pc. It can forward incoming messages to a URL over HTTP, or store them in a database table, or write them to a CSV file, in real-time.