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Connection Software |
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Drop-It
Simple two-way text messaging for applications
Drop-It is a free, lightweight, robust, standards-based Windows Service that makes it easy to send and receive plain SMS text messages
in almost any language, via our messaging gateway. It is designed to automate SMS integration with other applications and is not typically used directly by
human beings. If you want a human friendly program, we suggest you try our free Mobile Messenger application.
Sending SMS Messages
To send a message all you need to do is to write a correctly formatted text file into the 'Outbox' directory. As soon as the file is written, the Drop-It Service collects, sends and deletes it.
Many applications can be made to write a file to a directory. This makes it very simple to get programs running on your PC to send text messages without the need for custom API's, or other costly development.
If you send a message that is larger than the maximum size of a single message (usually 160 GSM characters or 70 Unicode characters) then it will be sent as a concatenated message. On phones that understand such messages, concatenated messages are displayed either as a single message or a series of messages marked x of n (where x is the current message part number and n is the total number of parts to the message).
To send a message in a non-ASCII language, such as Chinese or Hebrew, you must save the drop-out file in the Unicode UTF-8 standard format. Note that Unicode messages are typically only 70 characters long each.
Receiving SMS Messages
To receive a plain SMS text message, such as a reply to your original message you will need to purchase a two-way service. You can set-up this service online in a matter of just a few minutes and there is a free trial of many types of two-way service.
Prices start from as little as £10 GBP per month and 1p per incoming message. You must have an Internet connection with a fixed IP address (which you will need to enter during set-up). When you have two-way you will find replies appear in whichever directory you specified as the Inbox Directory.
Using Shared Network Directories
You can easily change the Inbox and Outbox directories using the configuration utility that comes with the main application (see image to the right). If you choose to locate either or both of those directories on a shared network drive then anyone who can access the shared directory can send or receive SMS messages. This is ideal when a group of users, or more likely programs, need to send SMS messages.
Multiple Accounts
Drop-It supports sending and receive from up to four different accounts simultaneously.Each account has it's own inbox and outbox and runs independently of the others.
Download Drop-It
Download (ZIP) a full and complete copy of Drop-It for free. Drop-it is compatible with Windows Vista, XP (including SP 2), 2003 Server, 2000 and NT 4.0.
Support
Please read the Installation Manual (PDF) for more details of how to install and configure the application, as well as troubleshooting tips and other useful information.
Please contact Connection Software Technical Support if you have any problems or questions not addressed in the manual.
All prices exclude VAT, and are subject to change without prior notice. E&OE. Offers available while stocks last.