NowSMS Lite

Send & Receive SMS and MMS Messages with GSM Modems

Using a GSM modem, or an Android phone as a modem, is a quick and efficient way to get started with SMS and/or MMS applications. No special service provider subscriptions are required, just a standard SIM card that has been activated for use with a mobile operator.

NowSMS Lite is designed to send and receive SMS and MMS messages using a GSM (GRPS/EDGE/3G/LTE) modem, or an Android phone acting as a modem.

End users can send and receive SMS and MMS messages via a web interface or their regular e-mail client.

Applications can send and receive SMS and MMS messages using standard protocols such as HTTP, SMTP/POP3/IMAP, SMPP or MM7, or using API examples for Java, PHP or command-line interfaces.

Note: NowSMS Lite is our entry level product that supports a single modem / Android phone only. It is not upgradeable to other NowSMS software products. If you are likely to require additional modems in future we would advise purchasing NowSMS Gateway Modem Edition.

A new version is available that supports the ability to use Android phones as GSM modem devices for both sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages.

Supporting Android phones as modems is significant for several reasons:

    • LTE Support – LTE based Android devices can provide higher speed support for MMS sending and receiving.
    • Network Compatibility – Some mobile operators (and modem device manufacturers) assume that modems are used for internet access only and disable SMS and/or MMS support for modems. This is not an issue for Android phones.
    • CDMA Support – For years, US based customers have asked us about modems that can support Verizon and Sprint. Android phone support allows us to support those network operators using both CDMA and high speed LTE.
    • Broad Device Availability – For customers interested in trying NowSMS, it is far easier to locate or acquire an Android device than a conventional modem.
    • MMS Performance – With conventional GSM modems, MMS performance is limited by the mode switching required to switch between data and SMS channels. There are no mode switching delays mixing SMS and MMS traffic on Android devices.
    • Reliability – USB connectivity (and driver quality or lack thereof) is a major limitation for systems with multiple conventional GSM modems. For Android phones, the NowSMS server connects to the Android phones over WiFi. Modems can even be located in different physical locations to maximize signal strength. (The NowSMS server communicates over WiFi to a new app running on the Android phone.)

NowSMS Lite allows clients to submit SMS messages to NowSMS for delivery via the GSM modem, using either the HTTP, e-mail or SMPP protocols. NowSMS Lite also provides examples for submitting SMS messages from Java, PHP and a command line interface.

Received SMS messages can be routed to an application program using either HTTP, e-mail, SMPP, or a command-line interface.

NowSMS Lite  allows clients to submit MMS messages for delivery via the GSM modem, using either a proprietary HTTP interface that supports both HTTP GET and POST operations, e-mail, or using the MM7 protocol. MM7 is a SOAP/XML based protocol that operates over HTTP POST. Additionally, NowSMS Lite provides examples for submitting MMS messages from Java, PHP and a command line interface.

Received MMS messages can be routed from NowSMS Lite to an application program using either MM7, an HTTP interface optimised for PHP, e-mail, or via a file/directory based interface.

NowSMS Lite is available as a free 30-day trial.

Click here to download the free 30-day trial version of NowSMS Lite.