Methods of Sending Notifications to Mobile Devices.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around methods for sending notifications, specifically SMS or similar messages, to mobile devices from a monitoring device. Participants explore various approaches, including the use of service providers and alternative notification methods like email, while considering the constraints of remote operation without WiFi access.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks advice on how to send SMS or comparable messages from a monitoring device.
  • Another participant asks for clarification on what conditions are being monitored.
  • It is noted that sending SMS typically requires a mobile device with a SIM card.
  • A former software developer shares that sending SMS often necessitates going through a service provider, citing past experiences and the decline of direct web-portal access due to spam concerns.
  • Alternative methods such as sending email notifications are suggested, but concerns about the need for web access in remote locations are raised.
  • A participant mentions a personal project involving remote monitoring that sends email alerts based on data analysis.
  • Another participant acknowledges the need for a service provider and expresses concerns about the requirement for the device to function without WiFi.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that using a service provider is a likely requirement for sending SMS notifications. However, there is disagreement regarding the feasibility of alternative methods like email, particularly in remote areas without internet access.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the availability of solutions that do not rely on internet connectivity and the implications of using service providers for SMS notifications.

Vectorspace17
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I'm in the process of prototyping a monitoring device. When certain conditions are met, I need to send a SMS or comparable type of message to a mobile phone. My issue is that I don't really have any ideas on how to do that. I've tried to find answers in other places, but I haven't been able to find what I need. Can someone tell me what kind of methods are available for accomplishing this goal? Thank you.

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question. If it's not, I apologize and I will remove it and post it in the appropriate section.
 
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Hello vectorspace, what is it exactly that you are trying to monitor? Can you provide an example?
 
To send SMS you need a mobile, or some equivalent device using SIM (subscriber identification module) card.
 
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In my former life as a software dev we looked into this, but as a caveat take my knowledge with a grain of salt as this was 5ish years ago.
What we found is there isn't a simple and easy way to do this without going through some sort of provider. A quick google of SMS service should bring up a few result for you to look into.
it used to be, back in the day, that most cell providers had a web-portal where you could send a text to someone on their network. However with the rise of spam texts they were quickly shut down. This is the same reason as to why most providers won't let you directly interface with them to send texts as well. They've offloaded the verification process as to whether you are a spammer or not onto other trusted companies.

Another method that you might want to look into is instead of sending a text why not send an email? Most, if not all, phones these days have the ability to get email and what not.

As a fun side note for my senior year electrical engineering design project we are building a remote monitoring rig that will push the data to an offsite repository, this repository will then decide what to do with the data and if there is a critical issue email alerts will be sent out.
 
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cpscdave said:
most cell providers had a web-portal

instead of sending a text why not send an email?

Both those methods require web access. That means - in remote places - using a modem or mobile. So technically it is not much different from what I wrote earlier.
 
Thank you all for your help. I had looked into this quite a bit, but I wasn't sure if there were other solutions that I hadn't some across. I was thinking that I would have to go through a service provider to accomplish this task and it seems that's the only viable option. I had considered sending an email notification instead, but the parameters I've been tasked with meeting require the device to be able to function without being connected to a WiFi network.
 

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