SMS
This page gives an overview to using our services for SMS.
Inbound SMS
This is where text messages are sent to us to delivery to our customers. We provide VoIP numbers in all UK area codes and some special services (e.g. 0800). However, at present, only a few of the numbers starting 01 and 02 can receive texts properly from most networks. All of our 01, 02 and 03 numbers can receive texts from Three properly. Attempts to send texts to other geographic numbers (i.e. those starting 01 and 02) cause a call to be made and the text read out by an automated system.
Where texts can be received properly, and this includes all cases where A&A customers send texts through us, the text will be sent on to you by your choice of means. This is based on the incoming text setting on the control pages for your number.
Accessing This Feature
Access is via the Control Pages as follows:
- Log in to the Control Pages with your xxx@a login
- Click on the Number you want to manage
- Click the Incoming Tab, scroll to the bottom of the page
- Enter the details in to the SMS Inbound box
If you simply put in an email address, then the text is emailed to you. Additional email headers may be present to specify fields such as User Data Header if present, etc. This is also the default if you do not put any incoming text handling in to the control pages, but you have an email address defined for the number.
SIP2SIM
If you include a 19 digit string starting 89 which is the SIM ICCID for one of your SIP2SIM cards then the text will be passed to the SIM directly as a normal text. SIP2SIM charges apply for the SIP2SIM side as an incoming text. See: SIP2SIM and SMS
HTTP
If you put an entry starting http:// or https:// then we will attempt to send the text to you using HTTP (or HTTPS). If the URL ends with a ? or & then an HTTP GET is done with a set of form fields (i.e. name=value) containing information about the text. If the URL does not, then an HTTP POST is done using URL encoded form data. See: SMS API
Outbound SMS
Any of our VoIP Numbers can be used to send SMSs, just beware that not all numbers can receive an SMS.
You can send in the following ways:
- Via our web form: http://aa.net.uk/telecoms-sendsms.html
- Via the SMS API
- Via a SIP2SIM SIM (in a suitable handset or device). See: SIP2SIM and SMS
Other Information
Texts to SIP2SIM SIMs
Using our normal text services setting the destination numerb as the SIM ICCID (19 digit number starting 89) will send the text to the SIM.
You can also use the outgoing text gateway using the SIM ICCID as the username and a password as set in the SIM config on the control pages. In this case you do not need to specify the da.
Multipart texts
Where possible multi-part texts are automatically handled, concatenated before being passed to you, or split from your message in to parts. Unfortunately, not all of the systems to which we interconnect handle multi-part messages sensible, and this can result in a multi-part message being delivered as multiple separate text messages.
Itemised billing
Your bill will show the number of texts sent and received per number. The optional XML version of your bill contains detailed information for each text sent or received, including the text content of the message (unless the private setting was used).
Multipart texts are itemised and billed as a single text but billed for the number of parts sent. The XML identifies the number of parts.
Originator
The originator field is used to set where the message is from. Normally this is only your phone number. Exceptions are:-
If you have a presentation number set up for your VoIP, this will be used unless you specify an originator. You can specify the presentation number, or the main number. If you ask us, we can allow sending of text based originators on a per account basis. You will need to be an established customer. This can be withdrawn at any time.
UTF8 Character Sets
The SIP2SIM service does handle all of the GSM character set options, including the 7 bit character set with escaping, the 8 bit character set, and the 16 bit character set with UCS16 surrogates for full unicode.
Internally we convert all messages to UTF-8. If we are sending messages to your own gateway or email they will be in UTF-8.
Our outgoing SMS carriers to external mobiles do not support everything, sadly, and so some characters may get lost on the way. We can only suggest testing yourself to confirm.
Sending SMS to the SIP2SIM service can be done via our gateway/api and we accept UTF-8 which we will convert as needed in to the necessary GSM character coding scheme and split for multi part messages automatically.