Microsoft India Research provides a free SMS Text Messaging Server Toolkit that allows any Windows Mobile 5 based Pocket PC to be used in conjunction with a Windows XP or Vista based computer to act as an SMS Server.

The toolkit allows developers to easily write Text SMS based applications that can use Windows XP or Vista as an SMS Server without buying an expensive short code from a carrier/operator that costs around USD 2000 (or even more), paying thousands of dollars in setup fees to an SMS-aggregator, asking for the permission of any telephone company or buying any specialized hardware such as a GSM modem.

Keep in mind that the server application on the computer uses the carrier network on your Windows Mobile device to send out SMS messages. So you will need to have an unlimited SMS plan from your operator.

Vibhore Goyal who works on the project in Microsoft states:

“In our own ‘Warana Unwired’ project, Microsoft Research India (MSR India) worked with a 70,000 person sugarcane cooperative to enable their farmers to buy fertilizer, check their payment history, register their land, etc. via SMS and with significant costs savings versus their existing PC kiosk based system. In our work with technology in schools, we saw a consistent need from school administrators to easily and simply send out bulk SMS messages (e.g. SMS all parents “School is cancelled today”) - a need that is likely shared by soccer clubs, friends and businesses everywhere. Additionally, there are many exciting SMS services in enabling informational lookups, e.g. weather and stock look-ups and job bulletin boards in Africa. Finally, as we discussed these scenarios with others, many companies came forward with their own ideas for SMS applications such as directory look-ups where any employee could lookup information on other employees or customer records via SMS.”

Currently, a few readymade samples are provided on the website for small companies/corporates such as an Excel file where you can enter mobile numbers to send bulk SMSs, an Active Directory Look Up tool and a weather lookup via SMS and Excel Sheet sample.

Visit the project website for more details- MSRIndia SMS Toolkit.

Thanks to Vibhore Goyal from Microsoft for spending time with me on this.