sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

[martinwcole]

has anyone worked this out?

[Mendy]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Probably not what you are trying to do, but if you are emailing from within Alpha 5 you just use the ten digit phone number@xxx where xxx is carrier's web address for messaging. ATT would be [email protected]. Others can be found by searching for email to text. If you mean other method, I don't know.

[Mendy]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Looking at my post you wouldn't need the dashes and the forum converted it to a link which it is not. Sorry.

[martinwcole]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

thanks
I started googling and found a page describing same after reading your reply, with a list of all the carriers and their suffixes

http://www.emrupdate.com/blogs/duckn...-computer.aspx

[G Gabriel]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

I wish you didn't ask the question nor found the answer!
I was about to send you a private message with the answer when I found out you already found it.
The reason being, questions like this opens the door for abuse. I hate all those spam text messages I get.. and they are not free either.

[martinwcole]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Sorry to hear that Gabe. I have never either sent or received a text message on a phone or other device. In fact, I've only ever used a cell phone one time. So I'm pretty green on it all.

[Mendy]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Apparently from Martin's post sounds like he has a customer asking about the feature. Being a developer does he just say no it can't be done. Then what happens when that customer talks to someone else using Alpha and they say they do it all the time, it's simple? Now combined with your input he can say yes and tell them of the possible negatives brought forward in your post and let the informed customer make a choice. Maybe his customer wants to send text to people they know have unlimited text plans or a company wanting to send text messages from office to their employees using office computer. You do have a valid point. There are multiple carrier based options out there to block spam email to text. Some involve blocking all email to text, assign you a alias email address for text messages (example donotsendmespam@ carrier.xxx. You give people you want to receive email texts this address), blocking numbers, free blocking apps and others.

[G Gabriel]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Agreed. I just believe any question involving "mass" email/text ..etc should be taken off the board and be answered privately to trusted members not for the whole world to see.

[martinwcole]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Interesting question:
Since I have never needed "mass mailing" before, the issue has never come up. But I recall reading that you can only send so many emails in a batch without obtaining special permission from the provider.

This customer wants to text_message to customers an ad, like "Special Price for xxxx thu the end of this week." And since they will have many many customers, I suspect this will come up as an issue.

[Mendy]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

I would also,very definitely in keeping with Gabe's concerns program in an opt in function for the customer (and inversely an opt out if the customer no longer wishes to be notified in this way). Also your customer may not be aware that this only works on cell phones, not land lines. Strange thinking happens. Had a customer when asked if they were backing up, told me they were backing up to D: because C: had a problem. Checking determined D: was a partition on C:, not separate drive like they thought. Using opt in/opt out would assure your customer that his customer wants to receive the information via text messaging. Similar to websites where they ask if you wish to be informed of changes, sales and so forth. Enabled Staples to send me information like that and every couple of days get one from them. Easy enough to delete, opt out, no cost versus possible cost for text message. Gabe, forgot to mention negative of blanket blocking all email to texts. For instance if you sign up for government notifications of emergencies they might also be blocked under this particular scenario. I do know your feelings, have prepaid phone and check email to find that the warranty on my 12 year old, 150,000 mile vehicle is about to run out. $ .10 down the toilet for checking the voicemail.

[Mendy]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Another option is go to Alpha Software site, products/feature packs/add ons. Towards bottom there is one called Netmailer. Check out video. Could possibly be a cost effective solution for you. Not sure if runtime version offered the opt in/ opt out (subscribe/unsubscribe functionality)

[Tom Henkel]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

I'm not going to weigh in on the merits of alpha to text, I simply want to answer Martin's point about the "spam" factor. If you try to send out many e-mails in a very limited amount of time, most ISP's will note this as a spam attempt and shut down the port. If it is a "commercial" account, the ISP should be able to open up the port and allow for the e-mails or texts if they are made aware of the intent. I had a situation where we had to throttle the number of e-mails sent at any given time, and then "go to sleep" for a while, then resume. We were sending a couple of hundred e-mails every six hours.

Tom

[G Gabriel]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Martin
I am sure you understand I am not suggesting that you have any untoward intentions but I am also sure you have seen on this message board postings from spamers.. Do some spamers use alpha? I wouldn't know.. but possible.

[forskare]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

This isn't something that should be policed by Alpha or the users of the message board. It seems to me it would violate the board's purpose. I hadn't thought of this but having my clients text me from their desktop is a fabulous idea. The problems I see with it are: 1) I might have to up my text feature to allow for more texts and 2) the length of the message. I don't know if there's a limit on the amount of incoming text but I think there is a relatively easy way to deal with the spam. This is Verizon's policy:

Relevant Mobile Advertising
When you use your wireless device, you often see advertising on websites and apps. Using the postal address we have for you and certain consumer information such as your device type, language preference and demographic and interest categories provided to us by other companies (such as gender, age range, sports fan, frequent diner, or pet owner), we will determine whether you fit within an audience category that an advertiser is trying to reach. This means ads you see may be more relevant to you. We will not share any information that identifies you personally. See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about relevant mobile advertising.

You have a choice about whether we use this information for relevant mobile advertising. Please note that you will receive mobile ads whether you participate or not, but under the program, ads may be more relevant to you.

No doubt, the other carriers have the same or similar policy and if not, I'm sure they could be contacted and asked to filter out certain phone numbers or types of text messages. I've not received spam text but do get occasional spam calls. Fortunately, I have free incoming so I simply delete it. Verizon has a feature to allow me to block up to 5 phone numbers. A good feature but a limit of 5 might be low for some folks.

That's my .o2, FWTW.

[Clunes]

Re: sending a text message to a "cell phone" from an Alpha DBF desktop.

Anyone in Australia might find this solution a good model for clients. Go to https://www.smsbroadcast.com.au/?gcl...FW1U4godizvYuA They allow you to access via an API. You bulk buy SMS at about 5c each. Most clients would find this an acceptable cost solution. I am sure you could build it in so they set up there own account and then use it from within Alpha, simpler than email style