| There are a variety of methods available for any | | | | rapid rollout of SMS to an organisation which can be |
| company wishing to implement an SMS service in its | | | | particularly important if your organisation is large such |
| organisation including: | | | | as a Call Centre for example. |
| - Web SMS - Send and receive SMS via a web-based | | | | - It's ideal if you don't want your staff to have |
| application | | | | access to the internet as it works within your |
| - PC SMS - Download some software to your PC | | | | existing email application. |
| which then allows you to send and receive SMS from | | | | - It's is perfectly suited for server alerting. Many |
| your desktop - usually the applications work in a | | | | companies use email server alerts for monitoring |
| similar way to Instant messaging applications | | | | systems, servers and websites for example. |
| - SMS API - Integrate SMS functionality directly with | | | | However many companies are realising that email |
| your applications, databases and websites. Using an | | | | alerts may not always be the ideal method of |
| SMS API requires technical know-how and the skills | | | | communication, especially for out of hours system |
| of a Developer. | | | | monitoring. This is where Email SMS comes in. It will |
| - Email SMS - Probably the most popular method of | | | | easily integrate with your server alert software. So |
| integration in our experience today. Add SMS | | | | each time an email alert is sent to you, you will also |
| functionality to your email account so you can send | | | | receive an SMS. This means all bases are covered! |
| and receive SMS directly from your email application. | | | | How to integrate Email SMS in your organisation |
| Most SMS providers who offer this type of service | | | | When choosing an SMS provider for your SMS |
| will be able to provide the tools to integrate SMS | | | | solution, you should be presented with two choices: |
| with any email application including Outlook, Outlook | | | | to integrate by your Email client or Email server. |
| Mobile Services, Lotus Notes, Groupwise etc. | | | | Integrating SMS by Email client is useful for when you |
| So what advantages does Email have over other | | | | haven't got a server or when you're giving SMS |
| methods of SMS integration? | | | | access to a small number of people in your |
| - It offers minimal training or disruption to your | | | | organisation, or the organisation is small. Configuring |
| organisation as Email SMS will easily integrate with | | | | can be done easily by setting up a new email |
| your existing email system. When you come to use | | | | account. Just add some user info and server |
| the service, you simply add a different suffix to an | | | | information and once configured you can send SMS |
| email address so it's sent as an SMS instead of an | | | | directly from your email application. |
| email. | | | | To configure at server level, requires a bit more |
| - Email is already familiar to people so unlike with a | | | | technical know-how but allows for rapid rollout in your |
| Web SMS or PC SMS tool there is no need to get to | | | | organisation. It also allows you to tie in SMS alerts to |
| grips with a new tool and there's no software to | | | | email alert server software quickly and easily. You |
| download. | | | | should normally be able to set up the service using |
| - As a user's email account is normally 'always open' | | | | reverse path authentication or SMTP authentication. |
| there's a reduced risk of missing SMS replies or | | | | When choosing an SMS provider, ease of integration |
| forgetting to send an SMS, unlike with a separate | | | | and service reliability are key. You should only need |
| application. There's no need to remember to check a | | | | to do a one off configuration to start sending and |
| separate inbox. | | | | receiving SMS via email. |
| - One of the main advantages is that is allows for | | | | |