| SMS is a simple but extremely powerful messaging | | | | able to test their services to ensure that the system |
| protocol. Over a number of years the SMS industry | | | | does everything that you want and expect it to do. |
| and the range of applications available to companies | | | | This also creates an opportunity to rate the level of |
| has increased exponentially. As a result, the number | | | | customer service and after sales support you would |
| of SMS providers offering corporate grade SMS | | | | receive in the future. |
| solutions and platforms has also increased. | | | | 6. Does the SMS provider have fail safes/backup |
| Due to the explosive growth the once simple task of | | | | routes for your primary destination networks? |
| choosing an SMS provider has become an increasingly | | | | If a SMS provider experiences a problem on their |
| complex process. Entering simple key phrases into | | | | SMS gateway with a delivery route (high traffic |
| the search engines for "SMS in Bulk", "SMS API" or | | | | volumes, network outage etc) they should be able to |
| even "Send SMS using Outlook" returns thousands of | | | | seamlessly switch your traffic to a secondary route |
| results from competing businesses all of whom claim | | | | to ensure uninterrupted delivery of your SMS's. |
| to be the best in the market | | | | 7. Does the SMS provider specify or guarantee a |
| The aim of this article is to make the task of finding | | | | throughput speed on their SMS gateway? |
| a SMS provider manageable by offering you a set of | | | | SMS Providers should be able to provide you with an |
| questions to ask yourself before signing with a | | | | estimated throughput for SMS delivery. This will allow |
| company. | | | | you to roughly calculate the time required for a bulk |
| Step 1: | | | | SMS campaign to deliver to your client's handsets, |
| Define exactly what a SMS provider is: | | | | thereby empowering you to effectively manage |
| An SMS service provider is a company which | | | | campaigns. |
| provides SMS messaging services, but is not in itself | | | | 8. Price of the service |
| a mobile network operator (MNO). SMS providers are | | | | At the end of the day price is a necessary concern |
| commonly called aggregators. | | | | and a large deciding factor. However you need to |
| The way in which an aggregator operates is that it | | | | determine the value of the service i.e. Basic reliability |
| will create multiple agreements with mobile network | | | | of the platform - will my message actually be |
| operators to send and receive data in and out of the | | | | delivered and if so will it be on time? Does the SMS |
| MNO's SMS Centre (SMSC). Aggregators can | | | | Provider offer delivery reports on sent SMS's |
| guarantee the delivery of the SMS up until it reaches | | | | (network and handset delivery), will I receive client |
| the SMSC, once it has passed to the SMSC it is out | | | | replies, can I customize the sender ID, will I receive |
| of the aggregator's control. | | | | usage reports, am I able to schedule messages for |
| Aggregators are able to offer excellent network | | | | future delivery, can I view usage by time period, user |
| coverage, create different pricing plans for message | | | | or company? Increased functionality on a SMS |
| delivery, offer increased flexibility for clients and | | | | providers gateway will incur higher costs as you are |
| ensure quality levels are met. | | | | receiving a premium service. |
| Step 2: | | | | 9. Has the SMS provider developed their own SMS |
| Start the purchase process by asking the correct | | | | technology and platforms or are they licensing and |
| questions: | | | | reselling products from another organization? |
| 1. Does the SMS provider have good network | | | | A large number of SMS providers are in fact resellers. |
| coverage? | | | | As a result they have limited knowledge of the actual |
| SMS providers should be able to provide you with a | | | | technology they are selling together with a lack of |
| detailed listing of their network coverage, moving | | | | industry knowledge. This can lead to poor customer |
| from local MNO's to international destinations. If the | | | | support and poor results with your own SMS |
| information is not available on their websites it should | | | | campaigns. |
| be available upon request. | | | | 10. How long has the SMS provider been operating |
| 2. How many credits does it cost to send a | | | | for? |
| message? | | | | Due to the rapid growth of the industry there are a |
| Majority of SMS providers will quote their services | | | | large number of companies launching reseller services |
| and billing system on a credit basis. This functions | | | | on a daily basis. The amount of churn within the |
| where a 160 character message will cost one credit. | | | | industry is high as a number of these business cease |
| If you exceed the 160 character limit the message | | | | operation after a short period of time. If you have |
| will take 2 credits and so forth.However, it is | | | | purchased, or accrued, credits with a company you |
| extremely important to note that delivery of a 160 | | | | will lose them, and in turn your investment, when |
| character SMS to an international destination could | | | | they close. |
| result in a higher charge than one credit i.e. sending a | | | | 11.Does the SMS provider have large corporate clients |
| SMS from South Africa to the United Kingdom could | | | | or a testimonial page on their website? |
| cost 1.3 credits. | | | | SMS providers with corporate clients have, in all |
| 3. What is the SMS provider's network quality like? | | | | likelihood, met the due diligence processes that larger |
| The question needs to be asked whether the SMS | | | | organizations impose on their suppliers. As a result |
| Providers gateway is a reliable platform. Before | | | | they should be able to provide you with a premium |
| paying for a service you need to ensure that the | | | | service. |
| messages you will be sending will deliver to your | | | | 12. Does the SMS provider promise a specific 'uptime' |
| recipients without incident or delay. Network quality | | | | on their SMS gateway? |
| goes hand in hand with "Price of service" and | | | | If you are sending time dependant messages you |
| "Service Level Agreement" points listed below. | | | | cannot afford to use an unreliable SMS gateway that |
| 4. Does the SMS provider support the protocol you | | | | will either result in your message being delayed or |
| intend to use to send SMS? | | | | failing. |
| There are a number of ways to send a SMS from | | | | 13. Does the SMS provider offer delivery reports |
| your system to the SMS providers gateway for | | | | tracking and reply functionality (two way messaging)? |
| delivery, these include: | | | | Accessing delivery reports to view the status of a |
| HTTP - This is the most commonly supported | | | | sent SMS or bulk SMS and then receiving client replies |
| protocol and is the transmitting of data over the | | | | on sent messages is basic functionality that the SMS |
| internet. | | | | provider should offer you at no additional charge. |
| HTTPS - This is the same as HTTP, however the | | | | These two functions create audit trails for your team |
| data is encrypted to ensure that it cannot be read | | | | and creates an open two way communication channel |
| by other parties on the internet | | | | between your business and your client. |
| SMTP - The use of email to post data to the SMS | | | | 14. How does the SMS provider offer customer |
| gateway | | | | support? |
| XML over HTTP/HTTPS - An XML file is created | | | | Telephonic support is the easiest and fastest way to |
| containing one or more SMS 's to be delivered. This is | | | | resolve a problem. Are alternative support methods |
| a more efficient method of delivering bulk SMS's as a | | | | offered in conjunction will telephonic support? - online |
| large amount of SMS's can be included in one HTTP | | | | help manuals, video tutorials, e-mail support, live chat. |
| post. | | | | 15. Does the SMS provider offer a Service Level |
| SMPP - This is a binary protocol for communicating | | | | Agreement (SLA)? |
| with SMSC's and is used for managing large volumes | | | | The presence of a SLA outlines a providers |
| of SMS's. | | | | commitment to reliable SMS delivery. The provider |
| 5. Are you able to test the SMS provider's services | | | | should be confident enough in their products and SMS |
| before signing a contract? | | | | gateway to offer a written reassurance to you. |
| Before committing to a SMS provider you should be | | | | |