|
SMS for Redundant Communications
Most wireless handheld devices such as Blackberries offer the ability to send and receive email messages to some degree. Despite the fact the PDA devices and services vary, handheld email has become a popular business communication tools. Using PDA devices has become so prevalent in fact, that most senior executives that use Blackberries understand the term “crackberry” all too well.
A downside to business wireless email lies in the way in which it is used and infrastructure components involved. For example, an assistant may send an email to an executive that is attending a meeting, or a support person may receive a network based alert while performing a service call. Both of these examples increase productivity and efficiency. However, both examples also depend upon your companies IT infrastructure to function.
Could your company electronically communicate if your Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), SMTP gateway, internet connection, or other core email component failed? What would happen during an emergency event or natural disaster? Would your ability to communicate via electronically be crippled?
If the answer is yes, you may wish to consider Short Message Service (SMS) text message for message redundancy. SMS, or text messaging as it is commonly referred, offers the ability to send short text messages without involving your companies IT infrastructure. The diagram below illustrates basic SMS message flow.
Just about all wireless providers offer SMS packages. If your wireless devices are SMS capable, implementation requires nothing more than enabling the service and a little user education. The first step in SMS utilization is to contact your wireless service provider. Providers normally offer a given number of SMS messages with each wireless packages, so before you spend additional resources review your current plan to see what is included. If SMS is to be used for redundant or emergency communications only, your current plan may offer the capacity you need. If you find your current plan does not offer SMS or the desired capacity, exercise caution when dealing with your provider. Most wireless providers view SMS as an outstanding revenue source.
The second step is educating your users on how to send SMS messages. It is actually quite simple. Wireless providers provide 'SMS email addresses' with their service. The table below lists some well known providers and their SMS email address formats.
Provider
Information
Max
Length
Alltel
<10 digit phone number>@message.alltel.com (web page)
160
Ameritech
SBC Paging
<10 digit phone number>@paging.sbc.com (web page)
230
Arch
<10 digit phone number>@archwireless.net (web page)
160
ATT Wireless
<10 digit phone number>@mobile.att.net (web page)
160
Cingular Wireless
<10 digit phone number>@cingularME.com (web page)
160
Metrocall
<10 digit phone number>@airmessage.net (web page)
200
Nextel
<10 digit phone number>@messaging.nextel.com (web page)
500
Qwest
<10 digit phone number>@qwestmp.com (web page)
160
Rogers
<10 digit phone number>@pcs.rogers.com (web page)
160
SkyTel
<7 digit PIN>@skytel.com (web page)
500
Sprint
<10 digit phone number>@messaging.sprintpcs.com (web page)
160
T-Mobile
<10 digit phone number>@tmomail.net (web page)
140
US Cellular
<10 digit phone number>@mms.uscc.net (web page)
160
Verizon Wireless
<10 digit phone number>@vtext.com (web page)
160
Armed with the SMS email address it is just a matter of typing then sending the message. As the chart above shows, different providers support different message lengths. When sending a SMS message across providers, message length should be limited to 140 characters to insure cross-provider compatibility. Update your wireless handheld contact list to include SMS addresses and you will have an emergency messaging method if needed.
What happens if I need to send an SMS message to a wireless device and I do not have a wireless device? The SMS address is the key. If the SMS is known, you can send the device a message from a normal email client, the providers web site, or programmatically. Most providers offer the ability to send their customers SMS message via a web page. Text or a button labeled “send a text message” is prominently displayed on most provider web sites. As this is a revenue source, providers offer everyone the ability to send their customers SMS messages.
Normal email clients can also be used to send SMS messages as long as the SMS address is used and maximum message length requirements are followed.
An often overlooked use for SMS is in alert messaging. Services that perform email, web site, and other network infrastructure monitoring could, and probably should, be setup to use SMS addresses. Since key components could fail and leave normal infrastructure components unusable, SMS offers an alternate way to insure message delivery.
Short Message Service can provide your organization with a redundant message path during emergencies, disasters, and for alert notifications. The service is relatively inexpensive and chances are your devices are SMS capable.
Lew Newlin is CTO of SiteRecon, a provider of internet email monitoring and web site monitoring services for business.
Lew Newlin
More Articles
The Best Communication - Michael Fleidervish
Cell Wireless Corporation is an international telecommunications company with innovative, proprietary software, operating on one of the World’s largest communication platforms serving 14 million residential customers and more than 1 million coveted...
More Effective Communication with Children - Part 5 - Robert Najemy
Wants to go to the movies
More Effective Communication with Children - Part 5
Robert Elias Najemy
A CHILD WANTS TO GO TO THE MOVIES
A child keeps pleading to be taken to a movie, but has not cleaned up his room for several days, a...
VoIP Communications Joins Escape International as Representative of Team Manager - VoIP Communications
Recent News and Press Releases The Latest Announcements and Press Releases For Immediate Release VoIP Communications Joins Escape International as Representative of Team Manager Making calls and talk to me with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)...
Microsoft Unveils Live Communications Server 2005 - ARA
REDMOND, Wash. -- May 4, 2004 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the opening of the beta program for Microsoft® Office Live Communications Server 2005, previously code-named "Vienna." Live Communications Server 2005, a next-generation enterprise...
Check Your Communication Skills - Steve Kaye
Use this check list to assess your communication skills.
Focus
* Do you pay complete attention to others when they are speaking? (A wandering focus discourages open communication.)
* Do you manage your thoughts during a conversation, focusing...
Dialogue: The Four Dialogic Principles For Successful Communication - Lee Hopkins
"But you don't understand!" exclaimed the manager, "this new initiative is vital for our team. If it doesn't work we could all be out of a job!"
"Uh-huh... Really... Explain to me again how this new initiative is so different from previous...
COMMUNICATION-KEY TO A GOOD ROOMMATE RELATIONSHIP - dan the roommate man
Communication is the biggest key to any relationship, and roommates are no different. Open up the channels of communication early: Talk frankly about how excited you are, if you are nervous, etc. Get it out; they probably feel the same way. Doing...
Types of Self-Defeating Communication - Patrick Porter
If there was a law against people verbally abusing themselves, it would be a safe bet that most Americans would now be in jail. The things we say to ourselves both silently and out loud are amazing! And we say these things to ourselves...
Socket Communications and SkyeTek Execute RFID Technology Agreement -
Exclusive License Paves Way for Development of a Broad Range of RFID Products For Mobile Computing and Handheld Devices
Newark, CA– 1/26/2004 — Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT, PSE: SOK), the Mobile Connection™ Company, today...
How To Develop A Strategic Marketing Communications Plan - Scott White
As Branding and marketing professionals, we have an in-depth
understanding of the importance of a marketing plan. However,
not everyone recognizes the benefits of investing in a strategic
marketing plan prior to launching strategies and tactics...
The Future of Communications - Voice Over Internet Protocol - Jill Meluson
The Future of Communications - Voice Over Internet Protocol
By Jill Meluson
When was the last time that you were able to make a long-distance call for free? If you said "never", you probably have not been introduced to VOIP or Voice Over...
4 ways to improve communications with your customers to create sustainable profits - Justin Hitt
By Justin Hitt, http://www.justinhitt.com/
If there were just one magic word you could say to your customers and double your profits, wouldn’t probably use it every day. Fortunately, a word does exist, but it’s not what you say, it’s...
|
