The short message service, or SMS, API is the application protocol interface (*whew!), which is just a fancy way of saying the language used to communicate between applications. An SMS gateway receives messages from your SMS software application or desktop tool (such as an e-mail) and it translates it into the protocol used by your recipients' system. This ensures that all your messages are successfully sent regardless of the carrier involved in the final delivery. The short answers is that the SMS API – the gateway – is a critical link in the delivery process of your messages.
SMS has achieved unprecedented success in the mobile and wireless world – billions of text messages are sent every single day, and SMS is now a major revenue source for wireless carriers. A lot of innovative applications are now being built on top of SMS technology and more are being developed every day. As businesses look to revamp their marketing strategies and try to reach out to new and potential customers, they are embracing SMS but choosing an SMS API gateway provider has turned out to be somewhat more difficult as many companies who want to hire their services simply don't know what to look for.
The following questions can help companies and non profits choose an SMS API gateway provider:
1. Is the protocol you will be using secure? HTTP + SSL encryption means the data transmitted over HTTP protocols (the most commonly supported protocol for sending and receiving SMS messages) cannot be seen by others. With HTTPS, data is encrypted before being transmitted over the Internet protocol, thus it is is protected from hacking or eavesdropping.
2. How good is your SMS API gateway provider network quality? SMS service providers are now offering free test rides to potential users, so you can test and verity their network quality. In addition, some SMS service providers offer multiple message routing options, so you can decide which messages to be routed through more reliable, but more expensive networks and which to send through less reliable but cheaper networks.
3. Is the SMS API gateway provider's documentation easy to ready and understand? A well-documented API and sample code should be available to developers. This will save loads and loads of expensive technical development time. One good way to test the documentation is to use it to implement a particular feature required by your SMS application. For example, you might check by reviewing the command parameters for sending concatenated SMS messages to see if your team can interpret the API without additional (read expensive!) support from the SMS provider.
4. Next, ask what payment options the SMS API gateway provider offers to new customers. Very often, SMS message credits can be purchased from their website, and many providers support online credit card payments. You'll also want to review their web-based account management features to see if it is easy to manage your account. Can you understand the user interface? Are the menu items well organized? Does it have detailed reporting to see messages sent and received? Are sub users allowed if you need them? Do they offer access to your account over HTTPS so your information is protected from snooping.
5. Very last, you'll want to check whether the SMS API gateway provider offers free messaging for testing purposes? You wouldn't implement any software solution without trying it first, and this is no different. In fact, it's more crucial because you will be communicating with your customers directly and you want that communication to go very, very smoothly to protect your relationship and your reputation.
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