What is SMPP and and Advantages of Using this Protocol

SMPP, also known as Short Message Peer to Peer protocol has continued to be a hot topic in the telecommunication world for a while, and for a good reason.

Cell phones in the modern world are best known to facilitate the quick passage of SMS information between individuals and many businesses, including organizations. And with this comes a great opportunity window for SMPP to make things pretty swift and easy.

In this blog article, we'll discuss everything you should know about SMPP and even help you learn how to use it in your business for maximum profits.

What is SMPP?

SMPP or Short Message Peer to Peer is a communication protocol that allows mobile phone users in a determined network to send and receive SMS messages with utmost flexibility beneath the TCP Protocol (Unlike SS7, which requires costly hardware and its proper configuration). In other words, it's like providing a bridge between two mobile devices so that they can communicate right away. This protocol was introduced in 1996 and has been gaining popularity over the last decade, with a vast quantity of mobile apps using SMPP as their primary channel for communicating with network carriers.

SMPP acts as a versatile data communications interface for easy transfer of short messages between RE (Routing Entities), ESME (External Short Message Entities), and MC (Message Centres). The ultimate aim for its creation is to ensure proper message delivery at all times. This technology is highly beneficial for business use, helping them grow by expanding their communication and capabilities reach. It's most handy for those who sell products online or want to offer their clients some automated service. Plus, the SMS messages are delivered over IP networks like GPRS or UMTS whenever possible to maintain a high message delivery performance.

Advantages of Using the SMPP Protocol

The SMPP protocol has many advantages. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should consider using it for your business:

• 1. Flexibility

The SMS via SMPP protocol offers companies more flexibility in their text messaging campaigns due to allowing customers to use this SMS sending mode as a gateway to send SMS in mass.

• 2. Security

The protocol is very secure and can provide end-to-end encryption for all messages through a robust system that ensures security at all times.

• 3. Reliability

The SMPP protocol is also highly reliable, so it's the preferred method of communication for many businesses. This ensures a higher read rate on the target’s end

• 4. Cost-effective

Integrating your business with instant text messaging campaigns through SMPP will save you money in the long run. Using SMPP for text messaging is far less expensive than using other, more traditional methods.

• 5. Timely communication

You can use the protocol to send timely messages to your clients or customers and stay one step ahead of your competitors because you'll be able to respond to messages in a way that fits your schedule quickly.

• 6. Interconnectivity

The SMS via SMPP protocol allows your business to connect with others. This can be a great benefit for companies that want to reach customers in another country or region without access to their own text messaging services.

• 7. Scalability

You can quickly scale the volume of your message delivery through SMPP if you need to send more messages for any reason.

• 8. Broadcast messaging

You can use the protocol to send mass text messages out quickly.

• 9. Customer service support

You can use SMPP to quickly deliver customer messages and address issues in real-time this way.

• 10. Scheduling

With SMPP, you have the power to schedule and send messages at a prearranged time. This allows you to get important messages delivered without having to reply in real-time, which can be advantageous for companies with many clients who are out of the office or may not check their phones during business hours.

Application of SMPP in Business

Businesses can use SMPP for various applications. Some of these include:

• Marketing. Allowing businesses to send promotions and offers to their customers as text messages for them to read directly on their mobile devices. *

• Appointment reminders. Used by multiple businesses to remind as well as following up with customers of appointments and avoid the loss of any important appointment keeping customers updated for any change possible. *

• Two-factor authentication / OTP. Allowing companies or services to be able to send a code that can be used as a second factor to verify the correct identity of a user attempting to log in. *

• Voicemail alerts Originated from a VPS (Voice Processing System), these indicate the presence of new voice messages at a customer’s mailbox. *

• Information services. Used on applications that enable mobile subscribers to send and receive inquiries about specific information required (For example Currency Rates or share-price information from a database or the cloud). *

• Voice-to-text. Used with services that be dialed directly and transcribe messages and deliver these to the recipient. *

• Location-based services. In combination with GPS hardware, you can obtain information on taxi assignment, stolen vehicle tracking, and logistics control. *

• Telemetry applications. Useful for controlling household features, such as maintaining a room’s temperature, illumination control, etc. *

• Security applications. Such as alarm systems, which enable the customer to interact with their security system and obtain updates of any event that happened in the secured location. *

• Online Banking, Share Dealing, and E-Commerce. Used to enable features as well as purchasing assets, services, or products, also making the customer able to receive information on their services, notifying them of changes, or providing links for invoices. *

• MMS Notification. Basically, allows the Customers to interact by receiving enhanced communications, such as images, voice notes/audio, or even video. *

• Cell Broadcast Services. Applications designed to support geographical messaging such as traffic alerts and emergency services may use the Cell Broadcast features of SMPP to upload messages for periodic broadcast to subscribers within a given location. *

SMPP Connections and the Role of the SMSC

The SMPP protocol uses the connection to the Short Message Service Centre, or SMSC, connecting your service provider with another. Once a connection is established between two service providers, it makes it possible for them to send their messages through the channel simultaneously. When you subscribe to an SMPP provider, they will establish the connection to an SMSC for you, making it possible for you to send messages using their service.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SMPP can be a great tool for mass SMS sending campaigns, it does require a certain degree of technical knowledge to configure an SMPP server, but once configured and running, the benefits as well the reliability will be high for you, your business, and the campaigns you intend running in the near future; if you have further doubts, do not hesitate to reach us at [email protected], we will be glad to help you!