FrontlineSMS as possible gateway

Posted by cglusky on November 23, 2008 at 2:18pm

Hey all, been watching the activities over at FrontlineSMS and it looks like a very interesting project. And they just got some pretty substantial foundation backing to support it. Also got confirmation from Ken over at kwinja.net that they are still planning to OS the code. Unfortunately I do not have a GSM phone to try it out right now, but it's on The List. Wondering if there is interest in the Community here to get it on the list as a supported gateway?
Cheers,
Coby
Metanomy.org

Found it interesting that much of this SMS Framework goodness started over two years ago http://drupal.org/node/52065

Comments

Definitely!

Posted by carole on March 24, 2009 at 8:57pm

I'm trying to find an SMS add-node solution, and am researching SMSframework as an option. (Does it add nodes, or only send alerts?) I'm definitely interested in FrontlineSMS!

Does not seem to be a traditional gateway

Posted by aspope on March 25, 2009 at 10:46am

Thanks for posting this - FrontlineSMS looks very interesting since we also plan to work in developing countries.

I am working on a few gateway modules as we speak, but this does not seem to be a traditional gateway.

FrontlineSMS appears to be Windows/Mac/Linux software that provides rich SMS communications, including broadcasting, surveying and more. The laptop becomes the communications center by using phones or cards to communicate with the cellular network. No Internet gateway is used. The attraction here is that they are aiming their product at (non-profit?) organisations that work in developing countries.

The important point here is that FrontlineSMS provides software, not an SMS service.

SMS Framework provides a few of the features now that carole has asked for (including node creation on message receipt), and any others can be created as plugin modules. I am creating a few modules for my project, including programmable two-way communication (eg. surveying). SMS Framework traditionally uses Internet-enabled SMS gateways unless some trickery is implemented in a gateway module to utilise a local cellular device, but the complication involved in supporting this would make it good only for projects that can justify having a local Drupal installation (eg. a self-sufficient command center in the field).

I hope that this makes sense. I would be happy to clarify any of it.
~ap

HTTP_Trigger

Posted by jcamfield on April 16, 2010 at 2:08pm

The newest version of FrontlineSMS has a new HTTP/Services API called HTTP_Trigger that looks really promising: http://www.frontlinesms.com/help-1-6/httptrigger.htm : "http://localhost:/send/sms/// "

You'd still need an installed base of FrontlineSMS modems/cellphones to use with this, but this certainly could be very useful to a lot of NGOs using Drupal who communicate with constituents/field workers via SMS already