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NowSMS Support Forums ⬆ NowSMS Support - MMS & Advanced Issues ⬆ Archive through December 19, 2005 ⬆ |
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| Author | Message | |||
| Anonymous |
Hi, I am trying out NowSMS and really like the ease of use, especially with SMS. However MMS is a little complicated, especially designing applications which can use the feature! All incoming messages are stored in the mms-in directory since I have chosen that option. Now what do I do with the directory? If I want to build an application like web based MMS album, how do I filter the directory based on username or phone number? Also can you recommend a gsm modem which I can use for both SMS and MMS which works very well with NowSMS for a corporate environment? What kind of applications have NowSMS users built using the MMS capabilities of NowSMS? It would be nice to have a list of the various ways in which it is being used. I for one, would like to use it to build a web based MMS album. Thanks, Jennifer | |||
| Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support Board Administrator Username: Bryce Post Number: 4503 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi Jennifer, MMS is more complicated because there is so much more information that can be presented within an MMS message. Each message can include multiple parts ... potentially even multiple images. So there's too much information to transfer in a URL request, like we do with SMS. The alternatives that we've come up with are to use MIME multipart encoding (forwarding to e-mail or MM7), or the file/directory based interface. The idea behind the file/directory based interface is basically that you would have a program that scans this directory for new files, and then processes/moves them accordingly. The format is that there is a text file that is planced in the MMS-IN directory. This text file has the MMS message headers in text format, and the file has an extension of ".hdr". An example of the format is shown at the following link: http://www.nowsms.com/documentation/ProductDocumentation/mms_notifications_and_c ontent/Creating_MMS_Message_Files.htm (The format that we convert these messages to is compatible with the format that is input to MMSCOMP.) Each of the message components (including any text components) are written to a separate file. They are referenced by an "X-NowMMS-Content-Location: filename" header (one for each component). "filename" is relative to the directory in which the ".hdr" file exists. Generally, NowSMS creates a separate directory to hold these content files for each of the content files, so here's an example of one off of my PC. In this case, the filename in the MMS-IN directory is 3F287A4A.hdr: Message-type: m-retrieve-conf Transaction-id: 3F287A46 MMS-version: 1.0 From: +44xxxxxxxxxx/TYPE=PLMN To: +44xxxxxxxxxx/TYPE=PLMN Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 17:28:37 GMT Message-class: Personal Message-size: 20796 Subject: Test MMS Content-type: application/vnd.wap.multipart.related; start=<testmms.smil>; type=application/smil X-NowMMS-Content-Location: 3F287A4A\testmms.smil;application/smil X-NowMMS-Content-Location: 3F287A4A\testlogo.gif;image/gif X-NowMMS-Content-Location: 3F287A4A\catchy_g.amr;audio/amr X-NowMMS-Content-Location: 3F287A4A\testmms.txt;text/plain;charset=utf-8 In this case, the X-NowMMS-Content-Location header includes a directory name in the file path, and that means that the file is in that named subdirectory beneath the MMS-IN subdirectory. (NowSMS creates a subdirectory name that matches the ".hdr" file without the extension, so after processing the ".hdr" file, delete the corresponding directory.) Hope that helps. Regarding a GSM/GPRS modem, I've always found the Siemens MC35 Terminal to be reliable. Wavecom and Multitech external modems are quite good. However, because you are putting a strong focus on receiving MMS messages, I would recommend a Sierra Wireless Aircard 750, and running the server on a Notebook computer. This may seem like a strange recommendation. But the issue is that receiving MMS messages on most modems requires mode switching between command (SMS) and on-line (GPRS data) modes on the modem. If you are receiving large quantities of MMS messages, the receive queue can back up while NowSMS is on-line sending or retrieving MMS content over GPRS. The Aircard 750 can be configured to allow both modes to operate simultaneously. As a result, it is much better when it comes to receiving MMS messages. Because the Aircard is a PC card, I recommend putting it into a Notebook computer. While there are PCI adapters for desktops, we've seen that the drivers for this card are very sensitive and problematic when installed in a desktop via one of these adapters. The downside of the Aircard is that you can only have one installed in a PC, so you can't do multiple lines. -bn | |||
| Anonymous |
Thanks Bryce, The problem is that the machine will have to be on 24x7/365. I don't think a laptop will be suitable for this right? Which modem would you then recommend for installation in PC which will handle both SMS and MMS efficiently. The client will be a bank perhaps. Thanks | |||
| Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support Board Administrator Username: Bryce Post Number: 4515 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi Jennifer, I'll admit that my laptop suggestion is a bit odd. People just don't seem to take the idea seriously about a laptop functioning as a server. I can understand that. You don't see too many of them in server rooms. But the most problematic issue when they are used is properly securing the machine (and especially the power cord) when it doesn't fit into a standard rack mount. The processing power of a laptop is more than sufficient (although I recommend at least 512MB) ... and these days many laptops are left powered up 24x7 (although not necessarily 365), as there is a trend toward more business users using laptops on their desktop (often with external keyboards & monitors), but not taking them home with them every night. But nonetheless, as a server it is unconventional to say the least. I just wish a non-PC card modem could offer the same level of performance. But if your inbound MMS volume is not too high, an external GSM/GPRS modem connected to a standard server PC will work fine. I've found the Siemens MC35 Terminal (an external GSM/GPRS modem that connects to a serial port) to be extremely reliable for 24x7/365 applications. The only drawback of that device is that it doesn't work in North America. Multitech is an excellent choice if you need a GSM/GPRS modem that works on North America GSM frequencies. -bn | |||
| Anonymous |
Bryce what do I work with? I need a dedicated 24x7/365 server for the applications. Also when we use a GSM/gprs modem like the aircard 750, what is the maximum thoroughput that we can expect for both SMS as well as MMS? If we need to scale up the modems then what do I do? Thanks again -Jenn | |||
| Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support Board Administrator Username: Bryce Post Number: 4531 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jenn, Go with an external GPRS modem setup if you think you'll be expanding to multiple lines. Performance numbers with GSM/GPRS modems vary considerably ... usually dependent more on the mobile operator than the modem itself. The biggest issue is whether or not the operator supports SMS over GPRS. If they do, you can see from 30 to almost 60 SMS messages per minute. If they don't, you're limited to a 5 to 10 SMS per minute range. You'll also notice that these ranges are quite wide. Signal strength is also a big factor, and it controls where you fit within that range. MMS speed depends on the size of the messages. If people are using phones with megapixel cameras and sending in large images, then you're going to spend a lot of time downloading these images over GPRS. The same applies if you are sending out rather large MMS messages. Figure about 4KB/sec (big "B" for byte as opposed to little "b" for bit) over GPRS, and a 40KB MMS message is going to take at least 10 seconds to transfer, and more likely closer to 15 because of overhead. (UMTS/3G would make a difference here, but I haven't seen any external UMTS modems, other than phones. Everything else is PC card at this point.) | |||
| Anonymous |
So Bryce, Your recommendation for external GPRS modem which will handle both sms and mms efficiently????? ;) Thanks | |||
| Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support Board Administrator Username: Bryce Post Number: 4574 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sorry, I probably should have repeated the bit about external GSM/GPRS modems from earlier in the thread:
One note, the Siemens modem doesn't support North American frequencies. | |||
| Anonymous |
hi, i am using NowSMS for receiving sms messages. i want to receive mms messages on the same modem (falcom twist). i have been reading the mms docu/forum for a while. the falcom twist modem has a vodafone sim: vodafone sends an sms with the confirmation of the receipt of an mms. i have configured nowsms to connect to the mms.vodafone.it to transfer the mms's to my server. "Test connection" works fine. i do NOT understand yet how NowSMS figures out which sms is a normal sms and which is a condirmation of an arrived mms.... any suggestions? regards, reinier van kleij | |||
| Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support Board Administrator Username: Bryce Post Number: 4649 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi Reiner, If what you receive is a true MMS message, then the MMS notification that arrives over SMS is in a binary format. If instead, you get a text SMS message that tells you that you have received an MMS message, and that you should go to a web site to retrieve the message ... then this indicates that the mobile operator does not have your SIM enabled for MMS. Some mobile operators will automatically provision you for MMS the first time you send an MMS. For others, the provisioning needs to be done manually, and you have to ask them to do it. My advice is generally to put the SIM into a phone ... send/receive MMS with the phone ... then, assuming that works ok, give it another try in the modem. -bn | |||
