FastSMS

SMS For Schools

FastSMS are increasingly finding important uses for SMS text messaging in schools and colleges.

Truancy management is one of the flavours of the month as OFSTED looks for improvements in this area at every visit. Texting works as follows:

Students who are under scrutiny for truancy (or in some schools all students) have their parent's or guardian's mobile number entered into a distribution list in NetMessenger. At a given time, often 9.30 when registration is complete, missing students' parents are ticked in the list and a standard SMS message is sent to them all with a single stroke. Sometimes the student's phone is included so that they know that the school knows they are "wagging it". There's a case study on this topic from Small Heath School in Birmingham.

Another common use is snow alerts or other messages to tell students not to come in or to get parents to collect them in a hurry. There's a case study for that too.

The other thing schools find useful is the ability for parents to text in to the school by sending a message to the school's Virtual Reply Number. this looks like a mobile phone number but actually delivers the text to a PC inbox. This can cut down dramatically on phone calls, especially at the start of the day when it is busiest.

The ability to send a text to multiple recipients is used a lot to notify students and/or parents of rehearsals, training, society meetings, anything really where a reminder is appreciated.

This list is by no means exhaustive so if you want to add to it please post a comment or email support@fastsms.co.uk.

Bespoke Development for SMS Integration

The team who develop the FastSMS NetMessenger platform and desktop products such as the desktop sender and the up and coming SMSLook Outlook Plugin are part of the NetSecrets development team who operate in a wide range of fields including IP network development, online database development using MySQL &/or SequelServer and pHP/ASP scripting.

Consequently FastSMS can pull together multi-discipline teams to develop bespoke solutions including SMS and MMS.

Tasks undertaken have included gaming and tipster sites where premium information is delivered by text; retail distribution where order progress is notified by SMS and much more.

So if you have a bespoke requirement where you need top technical skills married with the best SMS platform in the UK contact sales@fastsms.co.uk or call 01386 791880.

BlogCatalog

We have submitted this blog to BlogCatalog which looks a really useful resource. See our entry at:

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/internet

If anyone can recommend any other good places to announce our existence please post a comment with your suggestions.

Integrate FASTSMS into your applications

Direct access to the FASTSMS Gateway for developers allows you to add full SMS functionality to your applications. Our technical team have helped many clients in this area. If you have an idea and are not sure of the implementation required, please contact us . We will be happy to assist in any way possible.

The most common method for connecting directly to FASTSMS is via HTTP. This feature of the FASTSMS service allows developers to enable their applications with SMS functionality from within most programming environments.

Sending via HTTP from within your application is as simple as generating a HTTP request that contains the relevant variables and sending them to the FASTSMS gateway, this can be in the form of a HTTP POST or GET.

The FASTSMS HTTP gateway has been implemented into many different business solutions including server monitoring & alert systems, contact management databases and many other advanced applications.

For examples of how some of our clients are using the FASTSMS Gateway, please browse some of the testimonials.

The Perfect Introduction…

If you’ve never used an online SMS service, or aren’t sure what your usage might be, then the FASTSMS Trial Package is just for you.

With all the features & benefits of the full FASTSMS Velocity Personal Package you’ll soon discover why more than 80% of Trial Account holders become regular users of the FASTSMS service.

Please note: The Trial package is the quick & easy way for you to test us out. This account offers the ability to SEND messages only  – You cannot receive messages with this account. A 90 day time limit applies to this account. If you upgrade to a full account during this time any unused credits will be transferred to your new account. There are no time limits on any other FASTSMS account.

Trial Account Signups avaliable at http://www.fastsms.co.uk/packages/trial-account.html

SHORT CODE NUMBERS

Short Code numbers are 4, 5 or 6 digit numbers common to the main UK mobile operators. They offer the highest throughput of any cross network messaging solution, and rely on high-speed direct connections with all UK mobile operators. High volume SMS traffic is generally generated from television and press campaigns, for example the final night of BBC1’s Pop Idol programme generated in excess of 10 MILLION SMS votes.

Short codes are almost essential for 2-way applications which require premium rate text messaging.

The 5 main UK mobile operators all now offer premium rate messaging. Mobile users are charged between 25p and £1.50 for sending or receiving messages ( or multiples thereof ). The mobile operator charges the user for the messages and shares the revenue with the content owner or application provider. To request details of the UK network’s current revenue share tables and number availability tables please contact us.

You can use the system with either a SHARED or DEDICATED Short Code Number. In the case of a shared number, the first ‘keyword’ of any received message will identify the correct recipient. With a dedicated number you have no restrictions on your use of keywords or responses.

Using premium reverse billed SMS, FASTSMS can offer your company enhanced revenue streams and partially, or even fully, self funding marketing campaigns.

At FASTSMS we can offer reverse billing applications across all 5 UK networks. Costs vary dependant on service level but start from as little as £99.00 per month for a reverse-billed shared short code number.

For a specific quotation please contact us with brief details of your ideas.

For a detailed breakdown of Reverse Billing and Short Code numbers please visit our Mobile Marketing site at www.fastmms.co.uk

Reverse Billing SMS

Reverse Billing SMS is a process whereby small charges are made to a subscriber's mobile phone in return for a service. Typically the subscriber sends an SMS message to a short code number (usually 5 digits ), often including a keyword in the message and in return receives a service or a piece of information for which a charge is made on that subscriber's mobile phone.

Typical applications include charged voting systems for television and the press, subscription campaigns for a football team's news service allowing fans to receive video goal flashes at 50p a goal, or prize draw and competition type marketing applications.

In addition to this FASTSMS can offer hosting to media content developers and provide a delivery platform with reverse billing support for all media including logos, ringtones and java games and applications.

This facility opens up many new business opportunities never before available. Competitions, alerts, news flashes, quizzes and priority information are just a few of the areas where Reverse Billing SMS can be used as the basis of a business.

At FASTSMS we can offer reverse billing applications across all 5 UK networks. Costs vary dependant on service level but start from as little as £99.00 per month for a reverse-billed shared short code number.

For a specific quotation please contact us with brief details of your ideas.

For a detailed breakdown of Reverse Billing and Short Code numbers please visit our Mobile Marketing site at www.fastmms.co.uk

FastSMS Second Post

This is the second post on the new FastSMS blog. FastSMS are one of the UK's top suppliers of web based SMS text messaging.

More detail on FastSMS can be found at:

http://www.fastsms.co.uk/

More detail on FastSMS can be found at:

http://www.fastsms.co.uk/

FastSMS First Post

This is the first post on the new FastSMS blog. FastSMS are one of the UK's top suppliers of web based SMS text messaging.

More detail on FastSMS can be found at:

http://www.fastsms.co.uk/