Using Cellular Modems, Routers and Gateways

Cellular Modems, Routers and Gateways for Sending SMS and Text Messages

Cellular hardware is the single most reliable and efficient method of delivering SMS with PageGate. By using cellular hardware, you're removing PageGate's reliance on your internet connection to deliver your messages which means that your internet connection could go down and your messages would still be delivered. It's also important to note that using cellular hardware also allows you to receive replies to your messages, which means you can configure a two-way messaging system with SMS.

SMS capable cellular hardware comes in three varieties: cellular modem, router and gateway.

The basic device, a cellular modem, connects to the system PageGate is installed on by USB or RS232 and provides a COM port in the operating system. If PageGate is running in a virtual environment, you can also connect a cellular modem to a COM port virtualizer that provides the COM port to the virtual machine. This grants PageGate access to the cellular modem, which allows it to send and receive text messages just like a cell phone does. A good example of a cellular modem is Multitech's MTC-H5 series. It's also important to note that there are COM port virtualizers that will allow you to access a cellular modem from a virtual server. So, if you have PageGate installed in a virtual environment, it's still entirely possible to use cellular modems.

Cellular routers and gateways can be accessed by TCP, so you don't have to connect them to PageGate PC; they just need to be connected to your network and configured appropriately to receive messaging commands. Multitech's rCell 100 and Airlink's GX450 are good examples of cellular routers and gateways.

It's also possible to turn an Android phone in to a cellular modem with NotePage's new Android SMS Gateway App. When the smart phone is connected by wifi to the same network as the PageGate server, this app grants PageGate access to the smart phone and allows PageGate to use that cell phone to send and receive text messages. It is important to note that all carrier rules regarding sending text messages for the cell phone plan on the phone apply.