An SMS gateway is a way of sending a text message with or without using a mobile

(cell) phone. Specifically, it is a device or service offering SMS transit by e

ither transforming messages to mobile network traffic from other media or by all
owing transmission or receipt of SMS messages with or without the use of a mobil
e phone. Typical use of a gateway would be to forward simple email to a mobile p
hone recipient. It can also be useful in developing web applications that we can
interact with via SMS (Short Messaging Service).
Some SMS gateway providers can be classified as aggregators or SS7 providers. Th
e aggregator model is based on multiple agreements with mobile carriers to excha
nge 2-way SMS traffic into and out of the operator's Short Message Service Centr
e (SMS-C), also known as "local termination model".[citation needed] Aggregators
lack direct access into the SS7 protocol, which is the protocol where the SMS m
essages are exchanged. These providers have no visibility and control over the m
essage delivery, being unable to offer delivery guarantees. SMS messages are del
ivered in the operator's SMS-C, but not the subscriber's handset.
Another type of SMS gateway provider is based on SS7 connectivity to route SMS m
essages, also known as "international termination model".[citation needed] The a
dvantage of this model is the ability to route data directly through SS7, which
gives the provider total control and visibility of the complete path during the
SMS routing. This means SMS messages can be sent directly to and from recipients
without having to go through the SMS-C of other mobile operators. Therefore, it
's possible to avoid delays and message losses, offering full delivery guarantee
s of messages and optimized routing.[citation needed]
Several operators have true fixed-wire SMS services. These are based on extensio
ns to the ETSI GSM SMS standards and allow fixed-fixed, fixed-mobile and mobile-
fixed messaging. These use Frequency-shift keying to transfer the message betwee
n the terminal and the SMS-C. Terminals are usually DECT-based, but wired handse
ts and wired text-only (no voice) devices exist. Messages are received by the te
rminal recognising that the CLI is that of the SMS-C and going off-hook silently
to receive the message.

Implementations
[edit]Direct To Mobile Gateway Appliance
A Direct To Mobile Gateway is a device which has built-in wireless GSM connectiv
ity. It allows SMS text messages to be sent and/or received by email, from made
by acquiring a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) web pages or from other software
applications. Direct To Mobile Gateways are different to SMS Aggregators becaus
e they are installed on an organization's own network and connect to a local mob
ile network. The connection to the mobile network is made by acquiring a Subscri
ber Identity Module (SIM) card from the mobile operator and installing this in t
he gateway. Typically Direct To Mobile Gateway appliances are used for low to me
dium volume messaging.[citation needed]
[edit]Direct To SMSC Gateway
A Direct To SMSC Gateway is a device which allows SMS text messages to be sent a
nd/or received by email, from web pages or from other software applications. The
Gateway connects directly to a Mobile Operator's SMSC via the Internet or direc
t leased line connections. It converts the message format into a format understo
od by the SMSC, typically this is the SMPP protocol. Direct To SMSC Gateways are
used by SMS Aggregators to provide SMS services to their clients. Typically Dir
ect To SMSC Gateways are used for high volume messaging and require a contract d
irectly with the Mobile Operator.[citation needed].
[edit]Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook 2007 has native support for sending SMS messages worldwide via
the Outlook Mobile Service[1]. There are also plug-ins for Microsoft Outlook th
at add this functionality.
[edit]AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) version 5.2 and above has support for sending SMS me
ssages for free.[2]. Third-party client Pidgin also supports this functionality
through the AIM protocol.[3]
[edit]ICQ
ICQ also has support for sending SMS messages for free.[4] Third-party client Pi
dgin also supports this functionality through the ICQ protocol since version 2.2
.[5]
[edit]Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger) 7.0 and up have support for SMS messages.
[edit]Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger, accessible through a dedicated client application, or through
a web site (mail.yahoo.com) have support for SMS messages.[6]. Third-party clien
t Pidgin also supports this functionality through the Yahoo! protocol since vers
ion 2.6.[7]