SMS.to Blog

SMS for Hubspot Plugin by SMS.to

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SMS.to’s Hubspot SMS Plugin is a powerful tool that allows you to easily integrate SMS messaging into your marketing automation strategy. With this plugin, you can send targeted text messages to your customers and prospects, improving communication and driving engagement.

Here are just a few of the key features and benefits of our SMS Plugin:

  • A-Z SMS delivery: Our plugin provides end-to-end support for SMS delivery, from sending the initial message to tracking delivery and handling replies. This ensures that your messages are delivered quickly and reliably, improving the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
  • SMS workflow support: Our plugin allows you to create custom SMS workflows, which allow you to automate the process of sending messages to your audience. This can help you save time and streamline your marketing efforts, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.
  • Automation workflows: In addition to SMS workflows, our plugin also supports automation workflows, which allow you to trigger messages based on specific events or actions. This can help you deliver highly personalised, relevant messaging to your audience, improving the effectiveness of your campaigns.
  • Conversations: Our plugin includes a built-in conversation feature, which allows you to easily track and manage ongoing SMS conversations with your customers and prospects. This can help you provide better customer service and support, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Customisable messaging: With our plugin, you can create custom SMS messages that are tailored to your specific audience and marketing goals. This allows you to deliver personalised, effective communication that resonates with your audience.
  • Advanced targeting: Our plugin allows you to segment your audience and send targeted messages based on factors such as location, interests, and behavior. This allows you to deliver highly relevant messages that are more likely to be successful.
  • Advanced reporting: Our plugin provides detailed reporting and analytics, so you can track the success of your SMS campaigns and make data-driven decisions about your marketing strategy.
  • Easy integration: Our plugin is designed to be easy to install and use, with a straightforward interface that allows you to get up and running in no time.

 

 

Overall, our Hubspot SMS Plugin is a valuable addition to any marketing automation strategy, helping you to improve communication, increase engagement, and drive business growth. With its advanced features and capabilities, it is a must-have for any marketer looking to make the most of SMS marketing.

SMPP v3.4 Short Message Peer-to-Peer Protocol and its benefits

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The Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) v3.4 protocol is a telecommunications industry standard for exchanging SMS messages between Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs) and/or External Short Messaging Entities (ESMEs). SMPP is widely used by enterprises, aggregators, and SMS service providers to send and receive SMS messages, particularly in high volume and mission-critical applications.

One of the main benefits of the SMPP v3.4 model is its high performance and reliability. SMPP was designed specifically for the efficient exchange of SMS messages, and as such, it is optimized for speed and reliability. SMPP allows for the exchange of large numbers of messages in a short period of time, making it ideal for high volume SMS applications such as marketing campaigns or emergency alerts.

Another benefit of SMPP is its flexibility. SMPP supports a wide range of message types and encoding schemes, allowing for the exchange of text, binary, and Unicode messages. This makes SMPP suitable for a variety of messaging applications, including those that require the exchange of non-Latin characters or multimedia content.

SMPP also offers a number of advanced features that are not available with other messaging protocols. For example, SMPP supports message concatenation, which allows for the sending of long messages that are split into smaller segments and reassembled at the destination. SMPP also supports message delivery receipts, which allow the sender to receive confirmation when a message has been delivered to the recipient.

One of the main drawbacks of the SMPP protocol is that it requires a dedicated connection and is not well-suited for use over the public internet. SMPP connections are typically established over private networks or leased lines, which can be costly to set up and maintain.

In contrast, HTTP-based API’s such as the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) are designed for use over the public internet and do not require a dedicated connection. This makes HTTP API’s more convenient and cost-effective for many applications, particularly those that do not require the high performance and reliability of SMPP.

However, HTTP API’s are not as well-suited for high volume messaging applications as SMPP. HTTP API’s rely on the request-response model, which means that a separate connection must be established for each message that is sent. This can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly for applications that require the sending of large numbers of messages in a short period of time.

In addition, HTTP API’s may not offer the same level of flexibility and advanced features as SMPP. For example, many HTTP API’s do not support message concatenation or delivery receipts, and may not support all encoding schemes or message types.

Despite its benefits, the SMPP v3.4 protocol is not without its challenges. One common error that can occur when using SMPP is the “Bind Failed” error, which indicates that the connection between the SMSC and the ESME has failed. This can be caused by a number of factors, including incorrect login credentials, network issues, or incorrect settings on either end of the connection.

Another common error is the “Submit Failed” error, which indicates that the SMSC was unable to deliver the message to the recipient. This can be caused by issues such as an invalid phone number, a full mailbox, or network issues at the recipient’s end.

In conclusion, the SMPP v3.4 protocol offers a number of benefits over HTTP API’s, including high performance, reliability, and flexibility. However, it is not without its challenges

What is a Binary SMS Message and where it is used

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A Binary SMS message is a type of short message service (SMS) message that is encoded in a binary format rather than using the standard 7-bit ASCII text encoding. Binary SMS messages are typically used to send non-textual data, such as images, audio files, or other types of binary content, over SMS.

One of the main attributes of a Binary SMS message is its payload, which is the actual data being transmitted. The payload of a Binary SMS message can be up to 140 bytes in size, depending on the encoding scheme being used. In addition to the payload, Binary SMS messages also have several other attributes that are used to identify the sender and recipient of the message, as well as to control how the message is handled by the SMSC (Short Message Service Center) and other messaging systems.

Some of the key attributes of a Binary SMS message include:

  • Destination address: This is the phone number or other address of the recipient of the message.
  • Source address: This is the phone number or other address of the sender of the message.
  • Protocol identifier (PID): This is a code that specifies the protocol being used to transmit the message.
  • Data coding scheme (DCS): This is a code that specifies the encoding scheme being used for the message payload.
  • User data header (UDH): This is a field that can be used to include additional information about the message, such as the length of the message or the number of parts in a multi-part message.

Binary SMS messages are used in a variety of applications, including the following:

  • Multimedia messaging: Binary SMS messages are often used to send multimedia content, such as images or audio files, over SMS. This can be useful for applications such as photo sharing or voice messaging.
  • Data transfer: Binary SMS messages can be used to transfer data between devices or systems, such as transferring a file from a computer to a mobile phone.
  • Application control: Binary SMS messages can be used to control applications or devices remotely, such as issuing commands to a remote device or triggering an event in an application.
  • Alerts and notifications: Binary SMS messages can be used to send alerts or notifications, such as weather alerts or emergency notifications.

Overall, Binary SMS messages are a useful tool for transmitting non-textual data over SMS and are used in a variety of applications and industries. They offer a convenient and reliable way to send and receive data, and they can be used in both simple and complex messaging systems.

How to Send Text Messages From Salesforce

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If you’ve been wondering how to send text messages from your Salesforce CRM instance, you’ve come to the right place. There are a variety of options available, including  Zapier and Zaps or the Salesforce SMS integration from SMS.to.  You can use any or all of these methods to send text messages from Salesforce to your customers and prospects.

If you want to send SMS messages to your customers, using SMStoForce will make it a breeze. SMStoForce SMS allows you to create customized SMS templates for your business. These templates allow you to collect feedback from your customers, send them surveys, and then use the responses to update their records in Salesforce. You can use templates for both simple messages and surveys, and you can even personalize them using mail merge syntax.

Once you’ve created a custom object in SMStoForce, you’ll need to assign it to the appropriate recipient. Once the field has been associated with a recipient, you can then choose to send the text message. You can also add more recipients for the same form. You can even have more than one user send a text message to the same recipient.

SMStoForce SMS Plugin

SMStoForce is a customer engagement messaging platform that streamlines your company’s communications with customers and employees. It provides an inbox that you can share with other members of your team, includes templates and workflows, and keeps your company’s confidential information secure. In addition, it offers a variety of messaging options, including automated messaging and custom text message campaigns.

SMStoForce integrates with Salesforce to make sending text messages from the CRM a simple and secure process. It allows you to send, receive, and manage texts across any messaging channel, including SMS and MMS. SMStoForce also syncs with Salesforce person accounts, leads, and contacts, allowing you to see all of your customer messages in one view alongside their contact information. SMStoForce also offers collaboration features, including shared inboxes, chat assignment, and private commenting.

Zapier to Salesforce SMS integration

Zapier lets you send information between your web apps without writing a single line of code. It supports multiple apps and actions, allowing you to automate entire processes. For example, you can trigger the creation of a new message in Salesforce whenever a new contact is added to a campaign. Or, you can set Zapier to send a text message every time a certain field in Salesforce is updated.
Salesforce

Salesforce text messages are a great way to communicate with your customers. You can send them text messages to quickly respond to their questions and get instant feedback. You can also use text messaging to send out surveys and polls. The responses you get from these can be used to update Salesforce records. For simple messages, you can use SMS templates and send the same message over again. You can also use mail merge syntax to personalize your message.

One of the best parts about using Salesforce text messages is that you can use the same platform to send out automated messages. This can be particularly helpful if you want to communicate with your customers at scale. This feature allows you to send text messages from within Salesforce while keeping all of your customer’s details safe and secure.
Email alert workflow rules

If you are setting up Email Alert Workflow Rules, one of the most important parts is to determine who is getting the notifications. You can choose to send notifications to specific users or groups of users. However, using specific users may be more difficult to manage. To make things easier, you can use roles, groups, or related users. You can also select a default email address or specify up to five different addresses. Once you have completed the settings, you can click the Done button to make the rule active.

Once you have chosen the recipients, you can start creating the workflow email alert. Basically, workflow email alerts send an email to multiple recipients when a case or lead is created or edited. The trigger can be any action in Salesforce and can notify different people. You can also specify a template for the email.

HTTP SMS API vs SMPP API: Which one to use for your business?

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If you are deciding between using our HTTP SMS API or our SMPP API, you should be aware of some differences between the two. This article will compare the SMS.to HTTP API and SMPP and give you some examples. Besides, you will also find information on the Setup of an SMPP server and SMPP Application examples. Moreover, you will find more information on the benefits  HTTP API over SMPP.

SMPP v3.4

SMPP v3.4 and HTTP SMS API differ in many ways. However, they are both primarily used for sending SMS messages. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s find out how these two protocols work, and which is better for your needs. SMPP is the preferred protocol for telecoms <-> telecoms integrations because it has evolved as an industry standard for communication between operators, SMS Hubs, Aggregators and Big Enterprises etc. It can handle Unicode as well as longer messages.

SMPP v3.4 specifies data encoding. Encodings vary depending on the SMSC type and configuration. In CDMA, Shift-JIS is used for Japanese. SMPP specifies three encodings, including Pictogram and Default Alphabet. The encoding for Shift-JIS differs from the MSG_ENCODING 00101 specified in CDMA.

SMPP vs HTTP API

If you’re wondering how to send SMS messages in bulk, you need to know the key differences between SMS SMPP and HTTP SMS API. These methods both send SMS, but there are differences between them as well. SMPP is an open standard that can be used to send SMS to large numbers of users via a TCP open connection, while HTTP API is less complex as it can be integrated in minutes with almost every programming language. HTTP API allows a developer to quickly manipulate and customise communication for their own software/application, while SMPP will almost always require special server setup and a middleware application to deliver messages sent MT or messages received MO to your application. DLR’s (Deliver Reports) are seamless in SMPP and supported by the protocol while in HTTP API are usually handled by Webhooks to specified endpoints. SMPP can also support both extended message lengths, Unicode, flash, and Unicode messages.

To use SMPP, you need to establish a connection with an SMS gateway provider like SMS.to and you will need your own SMPP Server. The connection is done with an SMPP account and a TCP/IP connection. The current supported version is SMPP v3.4.

SMPP Server Setup

Before you can make the decision of whether to use the SMPP server setup or the HTTP sms API, you need to learn how to configure them. You can do this in two ways, with both of them working with the same protocol. In either case, the configuration process is relatively straightforward. However, the SMPP server needs to be set up first before you can use it.

The first step is to install SMPP server software of your choice. There are free (open-source) and paid software that enables you to send SMS, DLR, and binary content. When you install it on your server, you must enable logging in the SMPP client and SMPP server user accounts. Logging is important to monitor the communication process because usually SMPP Servers operate as passthrough message gateways and need interception to logging to maintain a message archive. Next, open the details page of your server. Click on the ‘Channels’ node. From there, click on the ‘Test’ tab to send a test message. You should see a trace of the SMPP server’s response.

SMPP Application examples

A SMPP application is a program that encrypts and transmits messages between two devices. The SMPP protocol uses a client and server that binds to an IP address. Messages are exchanged in a series of PDUs, which stand for protocol data units. Each PDU contains a sequence number, which is similar to the way IMAP messages are identified. A PDU has several properties, but each has its own specific purpose.

The request and response PDU methods return a Net.SMPP.PDU object. If the method fails, the result will be undef. The undef variable indicates a protocol-level error. Other responses will contain optional parameters. In order to get a proper understanding of these details, you should refer to the SMPP specification and source code.

SMS Http API benefits

There are many advantages to using the HTTP SMS API in contrast to the SMPP protocol. The first is that it can send and receive messages in bulk with a high level of flexibility. However, SMPP’s uses are mostly limited to SMS. Furthermore, setting up a SMPP connection is not easy and requires specialised knowledge of SMPP coding and error codes. This means that you will need to spend considerable time and money in order to start using it.

Both SMPP and HTTP SMS APIs require an SMS gateway. SMS.to can support more than 1000 SMS per second. Both SMS APIs can be used for Enterprise and Critical messaging applications like Insurance, Banking, OTP/2FA and other mission critical/high-performance scenarios. The key is to choose a gateway that has robust infrastructure, good connectivity and superior support. A great SMS API gateway is only as good as its customer support.

What is Transactional SMS and Why Does it Matter?

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Transactional SMS refers to text message alerts that are sent the moment a customer makes a transaction or purchase. Unlike other forms of SMS, which are typically geared toward marketing, transactional SMS seeks to provide customers with immediate service following a customer-initiated event.

Transactional SMS

What falls under the category of SMS? It’s simple. Say a customer places an order from your business. Transactional SMS would involve you sending that customer order confirmation details through text. If you run an eCommerce business, you may also send out transactional SMS in regards to the shipping and delivery information of the ordered product.

As you can see, transactional SMS refers simply to alerts that are sent following customer transactions. Typically speaking, transactional SMS is important for a variety of reasons.

For starters, it offers customers with an immediate (or at the very least timely) response to their purchases and gives businesses a chance for a quick follow up. This means leaving your customers with a good first impression. For businesses seeking a leg up in the market, it’s important to maximize customer engagement and enhance their business experience. Transactional SMS allows you to do just that.

Think about it this way: unlike other forms of SMS marketing, transactional SMS is triggered upon individual purchases or inquiries. This means that customers and businesses can enjoy some “one-on-one” time with each other. Simply put, the customer who makes a particular transaction will be the only one making that transaction. That gives your transactional SMS alert a more personal edge.

This leads us to the primary benefit of transactional SMS—a closer relationship with your consumer. If your consumer receives personalized alerts from your business, he or she will feel more involved with your company and your brand.

This means higher intentions to purchase from your brand and an overall better sense of brand loyalty. While transactional SMS alerts are not specifically designed for marketing, their overall net effect can be the same. In fact, transactional SMS has consistently been proven to increase the likelihood of repeat sales.

For businesses looking for a cheap and effective advertising campaign, transactional SMS is the way to go. Transactional SMS can be used in addition to your regular SMS policy to provide a more well-rounded customer experience. What’s more, this SMS has proven better at relaying important information to customers—only 22% of whom check their emails.

This means that you should consider transactional SMS for your business. By doing so, you could be setting yourself up for increased customer engagement, stronger brand loyalty, and increased sales. In an era of fierce competition, this strategy could prove to be the tool you need to succeed in the market.

SMS.to provides quality transactional SMS services to interested clients. These services can be used to boost business and to facilitate a stronger connection between you and your clients. Consider using SMS.to—and transactional SMS—if you are looking for a way to bond with your customers and grow your profit margins.

SMS.to now available for WordPress

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Enrich your WordPress site with SMS technology. Communicate with the users directly on their mobile phones.
SMS.to has released 3 WordPress plugins, all free of charge.

bulk-sms

1. WP – Bulk SMS (URL : https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-bulk-sms/)

The most powerful Bulk SMS Messaging/Texting plugin for WordPress.

With our plugin, you can:

  1. Send SMS to WordPress users
  2. Send SMS to WordPress role
  3. Send SMS to mobile phone numbers

 

You can also send SMS automatically to users and admins in different situations:

  1. Send SMS to WordPress subscribers when publishing a new post.
  2. Send SMS to the author of the post when that post is published.
  3. Send SMS to Operator mobile phone number when there is a new release of WordPress.
  4. Send SMS to Operator mobile phone number and to the user who registers on WordPress.
  5. Send SMS to Operator mobile phone number when getting a new comment.
  6. Send SMS to Operator mobile phone number when someone login.

2. WP – SMS OTP Login (URL : https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-sms-otp-login/)

sms-otp

Forgot your login or password? A Secure and easy way to login to WordPress. You just need your phone with you and your trust in sms.to
Our plugin bypasses the traditional way that uses username and password to login to WordPress.
Enables Login by sending SMS with a one-time-password to the user. If the user returns the password sent on the mobile phone correctly, then is logged in.

3. SMS for WooCommerce (URL: https://wordpress.org/plugins/sms-for-woocommerce/)

woocommerce

Integrates WordPress with the WooCommerce plugin so you can

  1. Send SMS to customers when a new product is published
  2. Send SMS to Operator when a new order is placed
  3. Send SMS to SMS receiver when a new order is placed
  4. Send SMS to customer when placed a new order
  5. Send SMS to customer when the order status changes
  6. Send SMS to administrator/shop manager/customer for different order statuses

Create Automations with SMS.to and Zapier

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Today we are officially launching our Zapier Integration.

For those who don’t know Zapier, they allow you to create complicated workflows and automated flows with triggers and actions between thousands of Apps and Platforms like 

Zapier offers integrations with over 2000 Apps and Platforms like popular CRM’s, Email, etc. so you can combine SMS.to actions and triggers with your favorite apps.

Zapier

To quickly help you get started we created 4 pre-built ZAP templates you can use. Some examples below.

Like above you can create combinations like sending SMS or updating your CRM and multiple mixes and match combinations.

The triggers we provide:

  • Trigger for New Contact in a List
  • Trigger for New Opt-outs
  • Trigger for New Inbound SMS

Actions you can use.

  • Action for Estimating Single SMS
  • Action for Sending Single SMS
  • Action for Adding Contact to a List

What are you waiting for! Visit our Zapier Page here: https://zapier.com/apps/smsto/integrations

This is a new integrations so if you need help, have questions or face any issues please email us at support@sms.to and we will assist you immediately.

SMS.to now supports FlashSMS

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Flash SMSSpeed of messaging communication and privacy is becoming the norm. With the new data protection regulations established all over Europe and the world, secure options and confidentiality become a standard globally for enterprises.

As one of the leading messaging providers, we adhere to the call of enhanced privacy and security.

Our platform introduces the FlashSMS feature for both our Web and API. This means that each sender now has the option to deliver the SMS content securely and blazing fast.

FlashSMS helps users avoid leaking of confidential information on the customer’s side being stolen like OTP / 2FA / Time-limited access codes, logins, passwords, etc.  since unnecessary storage of information is no longer needed on every side of the communication chain.

What is FlashSMS?

FlashSMS is a type of SMS that appears directly on the main screen of the mobile handheld device without any user interaction and is not saved in the inbox. This feature is considered an additional functionality for standard SMS delivery. It’s designed to immediately catch the recipient’s attention and mostly used to deliver sensitive and time-critical messages.

Often times used for sending One Time Passwords, Pin-codes, credit card information, information related to legal matters, or emergency messages that need to be seen right away by the intended recipient.

Our beta testers have recently successfully tested this type of communication for OTP and marketing messages as well.

Learn how to enable this feature by clicking on this link.

Regards

SMS.to is a product by Intergo Telecom 

SMS, HTTP, and APIs and How They Shape Communication

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New digital technology is changing the face of communication. Specifically, the methods businesses use to get in touch with their customers is different than it ever was before.

With the rise of SMS, HTTP, and APIs, communication can now be handled in a quick and convenient method that’s unprecedented in the history of business-client communications.

SMS, HTTP, and APIs and How They Shape Communication

To understand the benefit these systems have for your business, you must first understand just how they have worked to change the game. Below, we’ll show you just how these processes have made communication easier and more efficient than ever before.

Before Legal Loopholes

One of the most beneficial ways that they have helped businesses is that they have closed legal loopholes. In order to communicate en masse to your customers, you’ll need to compile a large data list.

And this kind of information is the sort that’s long been protected by data privacy laws. Additionally, businesses would need secure storing methods, making it difficult to put together a cohesive marketing plan.

The introduction of new technology has changed that. And though there is new legislation, such as the GDPR, that works to limit what businesses can do, communication is now much easier than ever before.

By having opt-ins that are clearly visible to consumers, businesses can now get large amounts of consumer data and use it for their marketing campaigns. This proves a boon to businesses, as they can more efficiently run revenue-boosting marketing campaigns.

Now Can Be Done Easily Through APIs

But how do these new forms of communication work? Consider the following information.

For starters, one must not overlook the power of an API in their digital marketing campaign. APIs give businesses the functionality they need to reach their consumers in bulk.

With the right API, businesses can input their data and start to contact their customers en masse. This proves the perfect solution to any digital marketing campaign, including SMS marketing.

For example, the right API gives businesses the tools they need to start using bulk SMS. By inputting their SMS lists, businesses can use APIs to send our information to all of their subscribers at once. This, of course, proves to be beneficial for businesses that are looking to get in touch with their customers.

What’s more, with APIs becoming increasingly sophisticated, they can now support both one-way and two-way-SMS, making them even more effective. This gives businesses a way to track consumer wants, needs, and their information, making it a more effective form of digital marketing.

By making use of APIs, HTTP, and SMS, businesses can safely store and use consumer information to promote their own deals and brand. Working in unison, this increases a brand’s top of mind awareness and works to better position them in the marketplace.

If you’re looking to grow your own business, it’s time to consider what SMS and APIs can do for you. Make sure to choose the right API for your business—are you needing one-way or two-way SMS, for example, to get maximum results.