Text Message Server

Text Message Server

SMS in the Business World

Over the last decade, 'texting' has become THE social messaging medium of choice. However, SMS is now also being seen as indispensable for more business-like purposes; Staff and customers can be kept up-to-date with immediate verified delivery, back-end processes can give out automated notifications and vast amounts of money can be saved by putting in place a simple communications channel that integrates with every business application.

Avanquest UK and Text Message Server

As an innovator and provider of communications solutions, we quickly recognised the business benefits of text messaging and, over the past 5 years, have developed integrated SMS solutions to meet the needs of companies and organisations, both large and small.

Text Message Server works with almost every business application, 'straight from the box', with the additional API covering any required 3rd-party software integration. SMS messages can be sent and received on the desktop and/or the software can be used to work with alerting and other automated systems.

Our SMS business solutions customers are now seeing a significant upturn in productivity and efficiency and are proving that there is certainly a place for text messaging in the business arena.

Whilst Text Message Server integrates with most business applications 'straight out of the box', we have not stopped there. Our deep understanding of the Corporate and Public Sector markets has enabled us to develop the software into a number of specialised 'builds'. What may be suitable for one organisation may not 'fit' with another's needs and as an SMS application can be used for so many different purposes, we have identified the following markets and looked at how Text Messaging could be of huge benefit.

Integrating Text Messaging with Business Applications

SMS is an excellent communication tool, but doesnt make business sense if the sender has to laboriously type messages in using a keypad and/or send to lots of people, using a standard mobile phone.

Text Message Server is a server-based, networked solution that allows users to send and receive SMS messages on any email-enabled desktop computer (PC, AppleMac, etc). But that's not what really sets our solutions apart from the 'competition' ... what makes Text Message Server stand out, is the fact that it can send and receive text messages from ANY application (email, CRM, ERP, webpages, back-end apps, XML feeds, etc etc) automatically or on demand. A set of SMS APIs are also available for database interrogation and custom interfaces.

• Email - Text Message Server integrates fully with MS Outlook and Exchange, Lotus Notes, GroupWise and ANY other SMTP email system. Users simply create and send SMS messages in the same way as they would an email. Incoming SMS messages can be routed to individual email accounts or groups and appear in the email 'inbox'. MS Outlook users also have the option of using a 'plug-in' to browse the Text Message Server contact database (MS Access or SQL) and add names to the SMS recipient list.
• Contact Databases - Create and send SMS messages to selected/all contacts in applications such as Sales Logix and other CRM solutions.
• Internet/Extranets/Intranets - Integrating SMS capabilites into your 'web'pages is SIMPLE, using a standard web form interface. We'll even provide the code.
• Print Driver - 'Print' to SMS from any desktop application or XML feed, with multi-line capability to allow sending multiple messages from one document or from a Database.
• System Alerts - Set 'back-end' systems to alert administrators with an SMS when there is a problem - Immediate notifiction, without the need to use email or other computer systems, which may also be 'down'.

File Processor Module & XML File Parser

These poll a directory for files that are then converted and transmited as SMS messages - particularly useful for integrators and developers who want to easily "SMS enable" applications. It is also a very easy way to create batch SMS broadcasts. In effect, any software that is able to output simple text or XML files, can send text messages. The XML parser can also handle incoming messages, turning them into XML files for use by 3rd-party applications. Further information is available in a dedicated document, please contact us for details.

APIs

For true seamless integration with any 3rd-party software not already covered, we can supply the TMSGateway APIs. These are based around a COM interface that wraps a set of XML-RPC WebServices used by the core TMS system, for inbound and outbound SMS messaging. A sample VB application is provided to demonstrate the use of the main functions.

Text Message Server Software Feature Set

Our SMS Business solutions are built around the Text Message Server software, which we have designed and developed over the past 7 years.

• Two-way SMS gateway with a choice of IP*, MSISDN* or GSM modem delivery
• One off server software cost
• Email integration as standard (MS Outlook/Lotus Notes/GroupWise)
• Outlook Plug-in
• Client GUI
• SMS printer driver for integration with all MS Business Objects
• 3rd Party Integration supporting CSV, XML, Web Services, COM API
• SQL/SQL Express database
• Active Directory Integration
• NT/2000/2003 Authentication
• RightFax User Authentication
• Proxy Authentication
• Sent and Delivered Notification
• Complete Audit Trail for Compliance
• Enterprise Reports Utility
• IP delivery with competitive SMS rates
• GMS modem support for IP Failover
• Mirroring and HA DR systems available
• Outbound Number Blocking, with accompanying 'Whitelist' facility
• System Generated Message Tracking
• Automated Replies, triggered by inbound messages
• Inbound SMS to groups