Mobile Phone SMS Messaging Module

[Nick]

This is my first module submitted to the Website Baker Community so if I missed something let me know:

I have a page type module that sends SMS messages (160 character limit) to cell phones. As of now only Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T have been tested inside the United States but I need some outside help to thoroughly test the program to make sure it works for everyone as intended. This application will be in Alpha status so expect bugs. I will also need some translation help.

Features:
 - Text messaging by person, group, or everyone.
 - Recipients of the message can text back to the sender.
 - 9 different phone carriers to choose from (please post if your carrier is not on the list)
 - As of now the application is English only.

Works on the latest version of Website Baker 2.8.1.

Demonstration found at http://nicsword.com/wb/pages/text-system.php

Edit February 08: MobileText V0.11 release
-Removed hard-coded text to use EN.php
-Fixed an issue with View.php. Profiles did not update correctly.

[kweitzel]

OK .. up to now you have hard-coded the language, right? I reckon you should start by moving your output into the EN.php file within the languages folder. That makes the translation easier, since you define the fieldname inside the language array and gives the translator a base where to start.

cheers

Klaus

[crnogorac081]

Hi,

@Nick,
Could you turn on error reporting and correct the appearing errors ?

also,
could someone verify that the messages works ? It wouldnt work to me..(europe), and what would be the phone number format ?

this could be a great module, thanks for sharing Nick !
cheers

[Nick]

@kweitzel
Thanks for the reminder, next update will remove the hard coded text.

@crnogorac081
I was afraid it would not work outside the U.S. Text messages are treated like email messages, for example a Sprint user would have the email address 2223334444@messaging.sprintpcs.com given the fact that his/her 10 digit phone number is 2223334444.

From what I understand Europe has their own international phone codes, a list can be found at http://www.eurotrip.com/content/european-international-phone-codes. This should not be needed unless your server is hosted outside of the area which you live in.

I will reinstall the application and repeat my actions with error reporting and see what I come up with.

[Bramus]

Hi,

@Nick,
Could you turn on error reporting and correct the appearing errors ?

also,
could someone verify that the messages works ? It wouldnt work to me..(europe), and what would be the phone number format ?

this could be a great module, thanks for sharing Nick !
cheers

This indeed will not work for some EU country's. The way i fixed a sms page is by using "Mollie". It is a dutch company where you can buy "credits". They provide a nice API and then it will be rather easy to also send messages in the EU.

I have made a page (not with WB) that uses CURL for this, and it is working perfectly. If there is interest in this i can post the curl code, you only have to attach the proper fields  and maybe it can be implemented in this module pretty easy (like a button for EU (mollie) US (mail)).

[Nick]

After some researching there are extra numbers involved such as the international code, and there are many of free SMS messaging sites
- http://www.onlinetextmessage.com/
- http://www.text4free.net/
- http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-sites-to-send-free-text-messages-to-cell-phones-sms/

They may not be trustworthy of private information but it proves a point that it can be done without having the user to pay. Some of them have a drop down list of carriers with the country beside it. I could give international codes a try and see what we can come up with.