SMS newsgroup / SMS opt-in list
In this example we show you how to setup an SMS newsgroup. An SMS newsgroup
is an opt-in list. In this example, people can join the list by sending in the
word "join" in an SMS message and can leave the list by sending in the word
"leave". If somebody sends in an SMS message starting with the keyword "news",
all the members of the list will receive the SMS.
Preparation
To create an SMS news group you need to attach a
GSM modem or GSM phone to your
computer with a phone to PC data cable. The next step is to
download Ozeki NG SMS Gateway and
to install it. Installation is
similar to the Installation of any windows application. Ozeki NG SMS Gateway will
control your GSM modem and will make it possible to create
an SMS news group. After Ozeki NG has been installed, the GSM modem you have
attached to your computer with a data cable should be setup. The
SMS Quick Start Guide explains how
this can be done. The final step is to test the functionality of your system,
by sending and receiving a test message.
Overview
The SMS newsgroup we are going to create will work the following way:
The first user with phone number +4411111 subscribes to the list by sending
in the work "join". The system will automatically respond with a reply message
(Figure 1).
Figure 1 - The first user subscribes to the list
The second user with phone number +4422222 subscribes to the list the same way
(Figure 2).
Figure 2 - The second user subscribes to the list
The third user with phone number +4433333 subscribes to the list the same way (
Figure 3).
Figure 3 - The third user subscribes to the list
After everybody is subscribed, the first user with phone number +4411111 sends
a message to the list. The message is broadcasted because it starts with the
keyword "news". This means the the second user with number +4422222 and the
third user with number +4433333 will receive a copy of the message (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - The first user send a message to the list.
How to configure
The configuration steps to create this solution are simple. You have to log
into Ozeki NG SMS gateway as administrator (Figure 5). The default username
and password is admin/abc123).
Figure 5 - Login to the SMS Gateway as admin
Then you have to add an autoreply user. This can be done by clicking on the
"Add new user link" (Figure 6), and clicking on "install" in the Add user
or Application list (Figure 7).
Figure 6 - Add new user
Figure 7 - Select the Autoreply user
Once the Autoreply user is added, you need to configure it. During the
configuration first you have to add a unique name, such as "danceclub"
(Figure 8). The next step is to create a script that will send all messages
that start with the word "news" to the members of the group called "dancers"
(Figure 9).
Here is the script:
m^news.*
grp://dancers MSG
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The script is very simple. It contains two lines. The first line matches the
keyword in them message, the second line will forward the message text to
the group called "dancers". Note that the dancers group
does not exist at this point. It will be created in the next steps. Finally
you need to enter a password for interactive login (Figure 10).
Figure 8 - Create a name for the service
Figure 9 - Compose the SMS autoreply script
Figure 10 - Create a username and a password
After the you have configured the autoreply user, you need to logout
(Figure 11) and log back in as the autoreply user (Figure 12). To log back
in (Figure 13) you can use the name of the autoreply user
and the password you have specified at the Interactive login section of the
autoreply user configuration form.
Figure 12 - Logout from the admin account
Figure 13 - Login as the autoreply user
After you have logged in as "danceclub", you should open the addressbook
by clicking on the "Contacts" icon (Figure 14). In the addressbook you
need to create a new group (Figure 15) called "dancers". Note that the
name "dancers" matches the name used in the autoreply
script. When you create the new group (Figure 17), in the configuration
form, open the Subscribe and Unsubscribe tab. In this tab you can specify
the subscribe and unsubscribe keywords along with the greeting
messages. In the example we have specified "join" as the subscribe keyword
(Figure 17).
Figure 14 - Open the addressbook
Figure 15 - Create a new group called "dancers"
Figure 16 - Specify the group name
Figure 17 - Specify subscription settings
Finally you need to click OK and you need to log out from the autoreply user
account. You can test the system, by sending in the SMS message "join". Good
luck!
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Distributed SMS
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