Email SMS – The business advantages of sending SMS via Email and methods of Email SMS integration

The popularity of Email SMS as a method of SMS•One of the main advantages of Email SMS is that
integration has grown considerably in the last fewis allows for rapid rollout of SMS to an organisation
years. This article outlines main methods ofwhich can be particularly important if your
integrating SMS into your organisation and discussesorganisation is large such as a Call Centre for
the potential benefits of choosing Email SMS overexample.
other methods.•Email SMS is ideal if you don’t want your
There are a variety of methods available for anystaff to have access to the internet as it works
company wishing to implement an SMS service in itswithin your existing email application.
organisation including:•Email SMS is perfectly suited for server alerting.
Web SMS – Send and receive SMS via aMany companies use email server alerts for
web-based applicationmonitoring systems, servers and websites for
PC SMS – Download some software to your PCexample. However many companies are realising that
which then allows you to send and receive SMS fromemail alerts may not always be the ideal method of
your desktop – usually the applications work in acommunication, especially for out of hours system
similar way to Instant messaging applicationsmonitoring. This is where Email SMS comes in. Email
SMS API – Integrate SMS functionality directlySMS will easily integrate with your server alert
with your applications, databases and websites. Usingsoftware. So each time an email alert is sent to you,
an SMS API requires technical know-how and theyou will also receive an SMS. This means all bases are
skills of a Developer.covered!
Email SMS – Probably the most popular methodHow to integrate Email SMS in your organisation
of integration in our experience today. Add SMSWhen choosing an SMS provider for your Email SMS
functionality to your email account so you can sendsolution, you should be presented with two choices:
and receive SMS directly from your email application.to integrate Email SMS by your Email client or Email
Most SMS providers who offer Email SMS will be ableserver.
to provide the tools to integrate Email SMS with anyIntegrating Email SMS by client is useful for when you
email application including Outlook, Outlook Mobilehaven’t got a server or when you’re giving
Services, Lotus Notes, Groupwise etc.Email SMS access to a small number of people in your
So what advantages does Email SMS have overorganisation, or the organisation is small. Configuring
other methods of SMS integration?Email SMS can be done easily by setting up a new
•Email SMS offers minimal training or disruption toemail account. Just add some user info and server
your organisation as Email SMS will easily integrateinformation and once configured you can send SMS
with your existing email system. When you come todirectly from your email application.
use the service, you simply add a different suffix toTo configure Email SMS at server level, requires a bit
an email address so it’s sent as an SMS insteadmore technical know-how but allows for rapid rollout
of an email.in your organisation. It also allows you to tie in SMS
•Email is already familiar to people so unlike with aalerts to email alert server software quickly and
Web SMS or PC SMS tool there is no need to get toeasily. You should normally be able to set up Email
grips with a new tool and there’s no softwareSMS using reverse path authentication or SMTP
to download.authentication.
•As a user’s email account is normallyWhen choosing an SMS provider, ease of integration
‘always open’ there’s a reduced risk ofand service reliability are key. You should only need
missing SMS replies or forgetting to send an SMS,to do a one off configuration to start sending and
unlike with a separate application. There’s noreceiving SMS via email.
need to remember to check a separate inbox.