NowSMS Beta Release - Android Phone Modem Support

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Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Bryce

Post Number: 8086
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2014 - 06:11 pm:   

NowSMS Beta Release - Android Phone Modem Support
(Coming Soon - Wednesday April 16)

New versions of NowSMS and NowSMS Lite will soon be available, and we are looking for beta release feedback. This beta will primarily be of interest to customers who are using, or are interested in using, modem devices to send and receive SMS and MMS messages via NowSMS.

The new release will include support for using most standard Android phones to send and receive SMS and MMS messages. (We have performed internal testing with devices running Gingerbread version 2.3 thru KitKat version 4.4.)

The beta release is expected to be available starting Wednesday, April 16. To request access to the beta, please send an e-mail to nowsms@nowsms.com, or check back here on April 16 when additional details will be posted.


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.
  • Multiple Modems - 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, providing far greater performance for NowSMS to simultaneously control multiple modems. 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.)


Additional New Features

For this update, we have focused on improving features that are of interest to modem based configurations. Some highlights:

Simplified Setup & Configuration

No more messing with finicky USB modem drivers and meddlesome modem manufacturer software.

MMS Settings can be automatically determined for most configurations.

NowSMS setup simplified for defining integrated SMS and MMS related settings in one dialog.

Improved Bi-Directional E-Mail to SMS/MMS Gateway

If you’re looking to use connect office workers on e-mail with mobile workers or customers, options have been added to simplify setup. A single gateway mailbox on Gmail can replace the need for setting up a separate e-mail domain. And SMS or MMS replies can be automatically routed back to the original e-mail sender.

E-Mail to SMS and MMS can also make use of distribution lists, making it easier to get your content to interested subscribers.

More Powerful 2-Way Commands

We’ve kept what works, but made it easier to get started. Simple keyword setup allows static text or image content to be sent in reply to a received message.

Keyword actions can also add or remove a subscriber from a distribution list, or forward a received message to an e-mail address.
Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Bryce

Post Number: 8087
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2014 - 06:17 pm:   

Here are a few config examples to highlight new functionality:

Modem discovery/selection in either NowSMS or NowSMS Lite



SMS and MMS Modem Settings Integration



2-Way Command Options



E-Mail Gateway Configuration