How do I aquire or source an SMSC for use in sending sms messages to/from
a mobile phone.

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Clarification of Question by tangible-ga on 11 Apr 2004 01:07 PDT

I am trying to do two things.
1. to change my sms message service on my phone to my own smsc (which
I don't have yet)
2. Route sms traffic to from my own smsc.

First requirement would be to own a nationwide network of GMS antennae
from which to forward your sms's. I presume you don't?

GMS? I meant GSM :-)

I currently use smsc from other providers, this how you can send sms
through free services, hotmail etc. You do not have to have gsm to use
an smsc, it can be delivered to cdma or g3 networks.

Most likely you would need to be a mobile carrier to be able to provide a smsc?

My point was valid for the UK where GSM is most prevalent, granted
CDMA or 3G is used more in the US if that's where you're from.

You said you wanted to send texts from your phone to your own smsc -
this obviously isn't the same as sending sms's from a web based
provider for free. These forward your written text from the web page
to the smsc of the relevent network provider who then send it out to
the cell where the recipient is located. Since no cell traffic is used
in sending that text from hotmail (for example) to the smsc it's free
- but this isn't what you asked.

If you want to create your own smsc you'd need to peer with a mobile
carrier, as you say but the point I was trying to make before was that
this isn't cheap!

So at I am back to the starting point. How do I aquire an smsc in the
marketplace? In my exprience I can buy from brokers who have
arrangements with carriers. There is a cost and reliability issue to
deal with. So the question is how do I aquire my own smsc (local folks
don't want to know me)for registering my own phones against and for
utilising to deliver sms's?
CDMA is used extensively in China as well as about 20 other countries.

Back to my original point, /you/ don't acquire an smsc without owning
a mobile carrier. Perhaps you should look into what an smsc is -
typically a cluster of computers acting as one that are connected to
every cell in the carrier's network, capable of sending and receiving
sms traffic, as well as having an internet presence in order to
transfer sms across carriers to their smsc's.

Perhaps you're confused with having an sms gateway?

Ok... How do I go about aquiring my own gateway? I currently use
gateways provided by other 'gateway providers'. If I have a gateway
can I then direct cellphone sms to that gateway (smsc)? Assuming the
gateway is attached to an smsc.

If you get your own gateway, then sure. Why you'd want to I don't know
as all traffic that went to that gateway would have to go through some
cellular providers smsc so you're back where you started. I don't
suppose you're trying to do this as a money making/saving scheme of
some sorts?

Everything is business related. Look. If i can move my calls to my own
SMSC then i would be able to move yours. Lots of people 'claim' to be
able to be able to transfer messaging to other carriers and get 'free'
messaging. I just want to have my own smsc so I can select my own
gateway. If it makes $ in the operation then - bonus it worked. So the
issue is still- how do I get an SMSC that i can register on my phone,
so I can message through it?

I still don't understand what you're trying to do. I've already
answered your question about the smsc - the answer is no you can't
have one unless you own a cellular provider. If you want one so that
you can send free text messages through it it can't be done otherwise
everyone would be jumping on that bandwagon. The only 'myth' that has
been spreading through the net regarding this is about half a decade
old now, and is if you use a different smsc number (typically of a
network from abroad) it's meant to allow you to text without charge.
This is a load of rubbish as pretty much all networks have wised up to
this and disabled the ability for people from other networks to use
their smsc's. Consequently you'll find that the only smsc that you can
use is that of your cellular provider and none other.

Still unclear?

Guess it is unclear from standpoint that:

1. There are providers out there who offer: SMSServer Protocol, Post
Method via HTTP and UCP Commands for delievering messages to SMS
server Gateways and SMSC's. So how do the providers get the
gateway/SMSC access? Do they own the Gateway or SMSC? If that is the
case how do I aquire a gateway.

2. When i roam overseas I utilise another carrier other than 'my own'
to send messages through a foreign SMSC. EAsy to check and see that my
message originated away from home. How can i aquire rights to use a
foreign operators 'gateway or SMSC' for the traffic? (lets say for
arument sake I have a hundred phones in my business and have noticed
that messages orignating over seas cost half of a local message -eg UK
Phone message is more expensive than a German based phone in same
company)

In response to 1:

You're talking about transfering messages across the internet here,
not from a cell phone to a physical machine - be it an smsc or a
gateway. I've already told you you can send an sms for free if you're
sitting at a computer, but your last point was that you wanted this to
be done from a cell phone. So which is it? If the latter then your
first question is irrelevent.

In response to 2:

When roaming you're actively in the cells for that particular network,
so the smsc accepts the requests. For instance, if I went on holiday
to the US I might be roaming on AT&T wireless, and be using their smsc
- but as far as AT&T are concerned I'm a customer within a cell on
their network (and the screen on my phone would say so as well) and so
I'm legit. If I came back to the UK and kept that smsc number and
tried to text through it I'd now be using one of the four networks
here, and not be in an AT&T cell. Hence it'd be rejected. And vice
versa.

Follow up to response for 2:

As for requesting "rights" to send sms messages through a foreign
smsc, I'd say I don't know the answer to this one. But in my
experience domestic sms has always been a /lot/ cheaper than
international sms when I was roaming so there aren't any financial
benefits to texting through a foreign smsc. Just for argument's sake,
what's going to be cheaper - calling your mate in florida from new
york via australia, or going direct?