looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

[PBX_g33k]

Good day to all Satlover.com members,

I'm curently developing a sms website from scratch.
I'm already four months in to planning and approximatly one month in to writing all code.

Since satlover.com is the first site i've seen that has a sms corner 'subforum' i thought, might aswell ask what you people look for in a sms website/provider.

I already have a list of services/functions which are worked out in paper. I will publish this list in the (near) future.


I have succesfully send a message to the following countries using the website in alpha stage:

• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Japan
• Italy (thank felipevianna for testing)

I couldn't test more countries at the moment since i don't know anyone in countries not included in the list.

Please note: This service will unlikely be a free service, unless i can find advertisers who can cover the network costs.

[anacondama]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

are you talking here about providing a free sms service??

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

if i can find advertisers, yes.
I need to pay network costs for sending text messages, if advertisements can cover that costs, than i can offer it for free. If not, then a small fee is required.
The fees will be cheaper than most if not al mobile operators (ie. o2, t-mobile, vodafone).

Note: i only checked the prices with dutch operators, if you want to know if this service is cheaper than your mobile operator. Please post your operators name and the price of a single text to your most used destination(s).

I cannot be specific on the cost, but at the moment it looks like 8 to 10 cents (in euro) per text.
This price is an estimate and can (probably WILL) change in the (near) future

[felipevianna]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

Good day to all Satlover.com members,

I'm curently developing a sms website from scratch.
I'm already four months in to planning and approximatly one month in to writing all code.

Since satlover.com is the first site i've seen that has a sms corner 'subforum' i thought, might aswell ask what you people look for in a sms website/provider.

I already have a list of services/functions which are worked out in paper. I will publish this list in the (near) future.


I have succesfully send a message to the following countries using the website in alpha stage:

• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Japan

I couldn't test more countries at the moment since i don't know anyone in countries not included in the list.

Please note: This service will unlikely be a free service, unless i can find advertisers who can cover the network costs.

I'm a programmer and I'm very glad to help you
If you want test to Italy send me a SMS message
If you have doubts about sms in Italy reply me and I'll search a solution for you
If you want I'll sent a private message for you if the cell number to test

In Italy you will send to Vodafone, TIM, Wind e Tre operators

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

I'm a programmer and I'm very glad to help you
If you want test to Italy send me a SMS message
If you have doubts about sms in Italy reply me and I'll search a solution for you
If you want I'll sent a private message for you if the cell number to test

In Italy you will send to Vodafone, TIM, Wind e Tre operators

My operator claims it supports all Italian (mobile) operators.
This is a great oppertunity to test if the project in its current stage supports italy. If you could PM me the number to test, i could send a test message within an hour.

Tank you for your help.

[felipevianna]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

My operator claims it supports all Italian (mobile) operators.
This is a great oppertunity to test if the project in its current stage supports italy. If you could PM me the number to test, i could send a test message within an hour.

Tank you for your help.

Do it -> TIM operator
waiting your sms

Tell me when you did it

[felipevianna]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

anacondama, What do you think about this?
Is very strange...or not?
Regards.

What do you want to say with Is very strange...or not? ?

[felipevianna]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

ok PBX_g33k

working in Italy
To the community: I received and I didn't pay nothing for the sms

Good luck with your project
If you want more help I'm here

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

anacondama, What do you think about this?
Is very strange...or not?
Regards.

Dear findeciclo,

The service can be offered for free if money that comes from advertisers can cover the operating costs.
Example: if sending a single text costs 7 cents, and a single advertiser pays 9/10 cents for placing his add in a text message (ie. last 20/30 characters are reserved for ads). than the service can be offered for free since all costs are covered.

Hosting and bandwith costs may vary on the amount of messages send over the network.

I hope this explains a lot.

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

ok PBX_g33k

working in Italy
To the community: I received and I didn't pay nothing for the sms

Good luck with your project
If you want more help I'm here

Thank you felipevianna

One more country i can add to the list.

[runmo]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

Hi,

This is a great initiative pbx. I remember free sms services on the net, but this was years ago, it's almost ancient history.
I hope you will succeed with your idea.

Good luck
runmo

[anacondama]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

anacondama, What do you think about this?
Is very strange...or not?
Regards.

you did ask a question and i should replay
i think that anyone want to make a project has in mind that he should make a profit and also sms service operators are not free !!!!
that was my thought about pbx project but when he did explain that the communication cost will be paid through the advertisers than i understood the whole idea
also i wasn't surprised .... it's just like a question like : what's the sea color?
regards

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

Hi,

This is a great initiative pbx. I remember free sms services on the net, but this was years ago, it's almost ancient history.
I hope you will succeed with your idea.

Good luck
runmo

Thank you, runmo.

there are free services but these are limited to specific countries, mainly the U.S.
My goal is to offer this service, hopefully for free, but still profitably, worlwide.

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

you did ask a question and i should replay
that was my thought about pbx project but when he did explain that the communication cost will be paid through the advertisers than i understood the whole idea also i wasn't surprised .... it's just like a question like : what's the sea color?

I can't say for sure that it'll be a free service. It's an if statement

IF i can find advertisers who see potential customers in this platform and are willing to advertise on this service. Then i will offer it for free if the income covers the costs (operation costs (network, contract, certificates), server costs (dedicated hosting or co-location, bandwith (if it exceeds the monthly limits), registration costs (registering a company cost EUR80 approx.)

IF i CAN'T find advertisers, i could setup a donation based system, this will be more risky but it could still make it possible to offer free texting.

If that (donation method) won't work, than it'll most likely be a paid service, with minimal profit.
I'm making this not so much for the profit (however this would be nice), but i'm making it because i can use the expertise i learn during the development to learn more about programming etc. And it'll be a nice addition to my Curriculum Vitae

I need to calculate all costs to make an estimate. I will make more estimates based on send messages per months (ie. 1.000, 5.000, 10.000 and so on). I can use these numbers to make prices for advertisers etc.

[PBX_g33k]

Re: looking for ideas and suggestions on a sms project

It's been a while since i've logged on to this site.
I've been working non-stop on this project ever since and i'm nearing the beta stage.

I've come up with some extra features and most features are implemented, such as Anonymous texting (using a fake number or a custom name as sender), Group texting (send messages to multiple receivers), Calendar (Planned) texting (handy for sending birthday, holiday messages).

I will post a link to the test-server soon. The website is currently running on a Private VLAN, so the only people who have access to the server are me, my fellow programmers, my test-crew (mainly friends) and some key connections (potential investors, financers etc.).


tldr; This project hasn't died