SMPP

What is an SMPP connection?

The Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol is an open, industry standard protocol designed to provide a flexible data communications interface for the transfer of short message data between External Short Message Entities (ESME), Routing Entities (RE), and Message Centers. SMPP is capable of carrying any message type, similarly to UCP/EMI.

SMPP can be used as a protocol that transfers messages between applications, such as Ozeki NG SMS Gateway and the Short Message Service Center (SMS Center) of the GSM Service provider over an IP link. SMPP is also used in TDMA, CDMA and PDC networks. The protocol is widely deployed in the mobile telecommunications industry. This link can be a leased line or the Internet. The IP connection between your PC and the SMSC might be protected by VPN.

How can i use SMPP to send/receive SMS messages?

You need to connect your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway installation to an SMS service provider who supports the SMPP protocol. For information on how this can be done, you can check the SMPP link setup page.

After the SMPP link has been configured, you can send SMS messages. To receive SMS messages via an SMS service provider who supports the SMPP protocol, they have to setup a virtual number (IMSI) where the messages can be sent to. This can be an international number, national number or a shortcode. When using a national number or shortcode, your service can only be reached from within the same country. When using an international virtual number, users can also access your service from other countries. When someone sends an SMS message to this virtual number, the messages are routed automatically to your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway installation through the SMPP link.

Concerning configuration, the Ozeki software is configured to receive SMS messages by default on all SMPP connections. This means it operates in transceiver mode. Transceiver mode makes it possible to send and receive SMS messages on a single connection. So to setup receiving, all you have to do is talk to your provider, and ask them to configure receiving on their side (the service provider side). They will give you the telephone number (or a short code) during this discussion. After they have configured their system, if you send an SMS message to this telephone number (or short code), you will receive it in your Ozeki system immediately. You can track incoming messages in the event log.

In some cases your SMPP provider will use a very old version of the SMPP protocol. This old version will probably be SMPP v3.3. In this case you need to setup two connections: one for sending messages and another for receiving messages. The connection used for sending should be configured into SMPP transmitter mode, and the connection used for incoming messages should be configured for receiver mode.

What kind of parameters do I need to connect to an SMPP service provider?

SMPP Server IP address and port number, SMPP user name and password, SMPP version number, Sender address, system type, address range.

  • The SMPP server IP address (or server hostname) specifies the TCP/IP address or host name of the SMPP server.
  • The SMPP server Port number specifies the TCP/IP port on the SMPP server to which the gateway should connect.
  • The User Name parameter specifies the user name (sometimes called System ID) for the gateway to use when connecting to the SMPP server.
  • The Password parameter specifies the password for the gateway to use when connecting to the SMPP server.
  • The SMPP version number - specifies the version of the SMPP protocol to use. Ozeki NG SMS Gateway supports "v3.3" and "v3.4".
  • The System Type parameter is a string that is used during login. It should be set only if required by the SMPP server. The SMPP system administrator will provide this value, which when required, is usually a short text string. Often it is "SMPP".
  • The Sender Address parameter specifies the default sender address (phone number) to apply to outbound SMS messages.
  • The Address Range is a parameter used primarily when receiving messages. It is sent to the SMSC after login, and is useful if several telephone numbers are used on a single SMPP link

    What is an SMPP transmitter connection?

    A connection that is used for transmitting messages only.

    For SMPP v3.3 service providers you will need to setup two links a transmitter and a receiver connection. The outgoing messages will go out on the transmitter link.

    What is an SMPP receiver connection?

    A receiver connection is used for receiving messages only.

    For SMPP v3.3 service providers you will need to setup two links a transmitter and a receiver connection. The inbound messages will come in through the receiver link.

    What is an SMPP transceiver connection?

    A connection that is used for both transmitting and receiving messages.

    For SMPP v3.4 service providers you will use a single TCP/IP connection, that will be used for both sending and receiving messages. This connection will be a transceiver connection.

    Can I become an SMPP service provider?

    Yes. You can provide an SMS service through SMPP.

    Ozeki NG SMS Gateway has a built in SMPP server. It allows you to create SMPP user accounts with a username and password and it gives you the ability to provide an SMPP service. To start using the built in SMPP server, you need to following the instructions on the "How to setup an SMPP user account" page.

    Which SMPP version is the most common?

    SMPP v3.3 and SMPP v3.4.

    The most commonly used versions of SMPP are v3.3, the most widely supported standard, and v3.4, which adds transceiver support (single connections that can send and receive messages). Data exchange may be synchronous, where each peer must wait for a response for each PDU being sent, and asynchronous, where multiple requests can be issued in one go and acknowledged in a skew order by the other peer. The latest version of SMPP is v5.0.

    What is SIM hosting and how is it related to SMPP?

    Sim hosting is a service. The provider of this service operates a large number of GSM modems. Each modem has a SIM card with a unique phone number. SIM hosting service providers forward incoming messages received on their modems to the customers over SMPP.

    In other words SIM hosting means that a service provider hosts a SIM card with associated phone number in one of it's GSM modems. When a message is received on their modem, it is forwarded to the customer through an SMPP link. The customer can use Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software to attach to a SIM hosting provider, by configure the SMPP link.

    Can I become a SIM hosting provider?

    Yes.

    When using the Ozeki NG SMS gateway, you can setup a SIM hosting service and you can provide connectivity through SMPP to your customers. All you need is a set of GSM modems attach to your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway installation. Once your GSM modems are attached to your computer, and you have placed SIM cards into your modems you can send and receive SMS messages through them. The next step to become a commercial SMS service provider is to add SMPP user accounts to your Ozeki NG installation, that will allow your customers to connect to your system. You will also have to setup inbound routing and outbound routing to make sure your customers will send and receive SMS messages through the appropriate modems (telephone numbers).

    Can I define a unique service type parameter for each message?

    Yes.

    To set a custom service type, you need to provide it when you submit the SMS messages. For example if you use an SQL to SMS gateway configuration, please add a new varchar column called "servicetype" to the ozekimessageout table. When you submit a message, please put the value of the servicetype field into this column.

    In the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway, in the Database user configuration form, modify the SQL Select statement in the "SQL for sending" tab to include the service type field. When you modify the SQL statement change this:

    SELECT id,sender,receiver,msg,msgtype,operator FROM ozekimessageout WHERE status='send'

    to this:

    SELECT id,sender,receiver,msg,msgtype,operator,servicetype FROM ozekimessageout WHERE status='send'

    Note the new column called servicetype int the SELECT statement. After these modifications, the servicetype field will be included in the SMPP submit PDU when an SMS is sent.

    When you specify the service type value in the database, please specify it in hexadecimal format. For example if service type should be 7777, write: 3737373700. Please note that the tailing 00 byte needed for C-string PDU values in your service type definition is also included. This means, that if you wish to send 2005 should write 3230303500.

    Can I see the phone number of sender's service center?

    You cannot see the phone number of sender's phone number.

    I have installed and SMPP connection then set the sender address of my admin user, but it does not appear on the destination phone. Could you help me?

    You may have forgotten to enable it on the configuration form of the service provider connection that sends out the SMS messages. On the configuration form of the service provider connection, you need to enable the "overridable" checkbox belongs to the "Telephone number" textbox.

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