Sms Gateway: what it is and how it works

In this article we describe how a Gateway sms and SMS API . For this reason, at the moment, the most common application is the "commercial" and marketing side, let's see what it is.

SMS Gateway: From Server to Mobile Phone

Whether it's communicating a new promotion, announcing a change to a purchased package, or alerting you about the arrival of a new product; a text message proves to be the simplest and most direct form of communication possible.

However, managing a long list of messages to send is not at all simple and, for this reason, it is essential to learn how to use Gateway and API; or access doors and synchronized systems able to acquire data present in the database of any company software (or website) and send the communication quickly, simply and securely.

Let's try to go into detail.

A Gateway could be considered a kind of bridge designed to connect two or more computer systems. Thanks to this bridge, which actually represents an interface with which to get in touch with other software; It is possible to manage a large flow of data, useful for sending communications of any kind to contacts in your address book, for example, but also for exchanging data and information of various types with suppliers and managers of different departments. This exchange of information occurs thanks to libraries used by software programmers called APIs (acronym for Application Programming Interface).

Why are SMS APIs used?

Let's focus our attention on the use of the gateway for communications with customers. The system of SMS API, provided by the provider, handles network and SMS services; it allows you to send messages from your own or third-party software quickly and easily.

Such help is essential for large companies that do not want to lose contact with their customers, but also for smaller entities that want to make themselves known; Offering a personalized service that meets the needs of potential interested parties at a lower cost compared to other, more "traditional" types of communication. Of course, understanding what information is truly important to customers may not be easy, but with careful study of user preferences, it will be possible to achieve a truly efficient service.

The importance of privacy

Not everyone tends to give due importance to such a system. It must be considered, in fact, that the mobile phone and e-mail are today very personal forms of communication and that a tool such as the gateway must be used sparingly: Overly pushy text messages and constant offers could have the opposite effect. and annoy the potential customer, who would then be forced to request removal from a given company's contact list. Therefore, the advice is to pay attention to the type of message you send: A text message can be very welcome for a promotion that is about to expire or the new arrival of a much-anticipated product. but it should be avoided if its sole purpose is to promote a service or to repeat for the umpteenth time the availability of a product.

Using SMS APIs for public utility communications

We can also consider using mass text messaging for public purposes, not just promotional and commercial ones.

We also wrote it at the beginning of the article, each of us always has our own cell phone with us, now seen almost as an essential appendage of our body, an sms always arrives (regardless of the internet connection) and could be used to warn citizens in case of emergencies, problems related to the territory, breakdowns or, in general, for any communication important for the public interest.

Thanks to the SMS API it is possible to integrate this communication system into any existing software (The APIs are distributed in all major programming languages: C, C++, PHP, ASP.net, Java) as long as the citizen gives his approval, of course! Privacy is perhaps one of the most sensitive elements in the use of this technology.