SMS
Short Message Service (SMS) uses the same basic technology on IoT devices as that employed with consumer mobile devices. However, in the context of IoT devices, there are more modes of SMS operation and use cases that provide additional capabilities.
SMS P2P
Peer-to-peer (P2P) SMS describes the mode of sending SMS from one device to another.
For IoT devices, this poses a security threat. Anyone with the correct MSISDN can issue commands to the device since there isn't any built-in authentication process.
P2P also isn't suitable for IoT device use cases in which a device needs to update, interact, or transmit frequently because a device is limited to receiving only six SMS messages per minute in this mode.
SMS A2P
SMS application-to-peer (A2P) describes the mode of SMS data exchange between a device and an application. One example of this is sending SMS using the emnify Portal.
Unlike P2P, A2P lets you interact with multiple devices using an application. Because A2P SMS can be automated, you can interact with your devices at scale. It also tracks messages, which enables you to see when a message has been delivered.
SMS MO and MT
Because the costs of sending SMS from an IoT device are higher than the cost of receiving SMS, all SMS usage is logged as either SMS MO (sent) or SMS MT (received).
Using the emnify REST API, you can dispatch SMS MO from devices as HTTP POST requests toward a user-configurable URL.
To activate or deactivate SMS MO or MT for a group of devices, you can use the toggle switches in a new or existing Service Policy to which the devices are assigned. See Service Policies for more details.
Send SMS using the emnify Portal
You can use the emnify Portal to send and receive SMS messages to and from your devices. Because SMS doesn't require a data connection, SMS is one of the ways you can configure the APN for GPS trackers and industrial routers.
Open the SMS console
Each device has an SMS console. To open a device's SMS console, select its message icon.
From Connected Devices
From Device Details
Show the Device SMS console
Send bulk SMS to multiple devices
Send SMS using the emnify REST API
See Sending and receiving SMS in the emnify REST API documentation.
SMS via Zapier
Navigate to the emnify Portal Integrations under the No-Code Workflows to find a list of Zapier integrations. In this list, there are two "Zaps" for getting you started with sending SMS from your devices.
- Send SMS via Twilio when new devices reach usage limits in emnify
- Send SMS messages when new devices reach usage limits in emnify
Learn more about no-code workflows in the emnify Portal.
SMS via SMPP
Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) is a protocol that the telecommunication industry uses for exchanging SMS messages between short message service centers (SMSC) and/or external short messaging entities (ESME). Telematics platforms, SMS services, and operators often use SMPP to enable sending SMS to and from devices.
You can select and configure SMPP as your SMS Interface via a new or existing Service Policy under Device Policies.
For an example of integrating SMPP with a third-party application, see emnify SMS via SMPP integration with Gurtams' flespi and Wialon.