Ozeki Phone System XE VoIP PBX software
is an advanced PBX built for automated voice calls and 2 way SMS messaging. It
has outstanding APIs for software developers. It can be used for:
This guide explains what are the major benefits to using
Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway for IP SMS connections. You can read about the major
factors
that make the software uniquely convenient: increased operation reliability,
flexibility to take advantage of various charges of different service providers,
easy adaptability to a new service provider, least cost routing, seamless
integration from GSM modem connection to IP SMS connection, independence from
proprietary APIs, communication tracking, better error detection and accounting.
Introduction
IP SMS service is provided by GSM mobile companies
and independent SMS service providers. The latter are often also called
aggregators, owing to the fact that they make contracts with several networks.
A GSM service provider usually only sends SMS messages within its own network.
Occasionally, however, it also acts as an aggregator, which means that it
accepts messages to be delivered to receivers in other networks.
An IP SMS service provider, regardless of whether
it is a GSM mobile company or an aggregator, allows connection in two ways:
using either one of the "conventional" IP SMS protocols (SMPP, UCP, CIMD2)
or a proprietary (individually developed) Application Programming Interface
(API).
Regardless of the type of connection that an IP SMS service
provider has to offer, it pays off to use Ozeki SMS software to
connect your own system to the service provider.
The sections below explain the reasons.
Increased operation reliability
It is common experience that the system of many a service
provider
becomes overloaded every now and then. This is due to the fact that some users
sometimes send a very large number of SMS messages. As a result, the service
provider becomes temporarily overloaded, which causes other users' messages
to be sent with a considerable delay, or not to be sent at all. The Ozeki
software enables you to make use of the services of several independent IP
SMS service providers. Its load balancing feature allows using any of the
service provider connections to send messages depending on how loaded it is.
Flexibility to take advantage of various charges
According to Ozeki's experience, there are many new companies
on the IP SMS market these days. They tend to offer better prices, and,
more often than not, they are equipped with more modern systems than older
companies. Therefore, they can also provide better service. In order to switch
over to a new service provider quickly and smoothly, you are well-advised
to use Ozeki software. It can be easily configured to connect to any
service provider. It supports conventional protocols (SMPP, UCP, CIMD2),
and it also allows you to easily configure the proprietary APIs of some service
providers. Consequently, it pays off to install the Ozeki program
between your own system and the service provider.
Easy adaptability to a new service provider
An IP SMS provider may go out of business for any reason, and
then you may find yourself forced to switch over to a new service provider. If
you have programmed Ozeki APIs, you do not need to rewrite the whole system.
This is because
the Ozeki software is part of your own network, and it will co-operate with any
service provider. The software also manages network connection link failures by
automatically starting to use a working connection link (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Managing connection link and service provider failures
Least cost routing
Different service providers may offer different charges for
SMS messages
bound to different networks. Having multiple service provider connections,
you can configure the Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway software to realize least cost
routing. For details, read the Least Cost
Routing guide.
Seamless integration from GSM modem connection to IP SMS connection
Setting up an IP SMS connection can be rather expensive.
More often than not, right at the start of your service, you may find that
it does not pay off to subscribe to an IP SMS connection. This is because
a GSM modem is also capable of the performance required for SMS messaging.
It can send 12000-14000 messages a day, and using multiple GSM modem
connections, this performance can be doubled, tripled, etc. However, as
time passes, your service may reach a level requiring IP SMS connection to
keep up with the increased performance demands. Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway allows
you to start your service using a GSM modem connection, and, as the performance
demands increase, you can involve multiple GSM modem connections, and, finally,
an IP SMS connection
in your system. The load balancing feature of the program allows joining the
throughput performances of multiple GSM modem and IP SMS connections. For more
information about the load balancing feature of the software, you can visit the
Load Balancing and
the Load Balancing for SMPP v3.3
guide.
Independence from proprietary APIs
Many IP SMS service providers release proprietary APIs (HTTP,
SQL, Java, C++ and others). This is mainly for the purpose of making their
customers develop
for proprietary APIs and to prevent them from switching over to competitors
without huge costs. Using the Ozeki program, instead of directly programming
the proprietary API of an IP SMS service provider, you will find it very easy to
quickly switch over to another service provider. You may decide to do so if a
competitor offers better prices, or if you are not content with your
aggregator's performance or quality of service.
Communication tracking and better error detection
The Ozeki software gives you a better chance to track
communication between the aggregator's and your own system, as it allows low
level logging as well. This enables you to detect and prove whether an error
has occurred in the service provider's or your own system if the delivery of
an SMS message has failed. For example, if the service provider has, on the
protocol level, confirmed accepting a message, but it fails to be delivered
to the phone, you can use the communication log generated by the
Ozeki software to request the service provider to find the message.
Accounting
The Ozeki software logs all incoming and outgoing traffic.
Logs are kept in text files or SQL database. This allows you to monitor all
incoming and outgoing messages, enabling you to check IP SMS service providers'
bills. This way you do not have to rely on the service provider if you want
to find out how much money you have spent.
