SMS online marketing site.

Hi,

Our business sells bulk SMS messages to other companies, and we send the message (marketing campaign) on their behalf through our SMSC.

We are now setting up a website where smaller clients can serve themselves. From this website they can register an account, upload lists of numbers, write messages and send them within a few clicks.

As part of this service we have a UK mobile number that we want to connect to a server for incoming SMS messages.

The client will be able to choose a keyword that relates to their business which can be used in advertising material. When someone texts the keyword to our number, the senders mobile number is placed in our clients online phonebook. For example, the client could have 'text DOMINOS to 07967123456 for special offers - once a customer texts the keyword to the number, their own mobile number is collected and placed in a phonebook which can only be accessed by the client (Dominos) in their account page.

I think there is software available to do this already, but we have not used any before. I would like to use either a GSM modem or Nokia handset connected to a PC via a data cable (I think the Nokia 60 series are meant to be good for this). Take a look at the existing software to see if it can be intergrated: http://pcwin.com/Internet/SMS_Reception_Center/index.htm

Essentially the website will be similiar in form and function to sites such as www.txtlocal.com or www.24x.com. We already have a basic website up, so do not need any actual design work, however the entire function and backend is yet to be done! Please visit these sites, register a free account and take a look.

We currently have an SMSC that accepts connection via HTTP or SMPP, a UK sim card for the keyword replies (need to know whether to obtain a mobile handset or gsm modem), basic web hosting with Hostgator (will not allow own applications but getting a virtual server is no problem, will need to know whether Windows or Linux required) and the basic website (front end)

We require:
User registration and login

SQL member database

Customer account page with the option to - buy credits, send messages, check keyword replies, upload phonebooks, access or download delivery reports, account admin (allow to change keyword or originator ID).

A comprehensive back-end account management, where we can see all users, messages sent, delivery reports, ability to add SMS credits to accounts for free, or at a different rate, customer contact, and probably many other things which will be decided later.

And of course to make the whole thing work!

Credits will be purchased via Google Checkout, so obviously need to have confirmation of the customers order from them before credits are allocated to their account.

I don't know what languages this is best done is, obviously we need the SQL database but the rest should be very reliable and fast whatever is used.

The above requirements are for the simplest form of the site, we also want:

Email to SMS (which I believe is actually very simple)

Desktop to SMS (a very small desktop application where you can save your username and password and send texts without logging in online).

Possibly a Mobile to SMS application - I think the easiest way of doing this is a WAP site with user/password to login to your account, write your message and then press 'send' to send a message to your entire phonebook (provided enough credits are available). This way everything is server side and the user doesn't need to install anything on their handsets. It also gets around compatibility issues.

Also it is important for clients to be able to integrate our service to their own systems using an API. Again, we can get a virtual server if a seperate application has to be written to accomodate certain aspects of this project.

With regard to pricing for this:
I am quite sure the software required to send the SMS keyword replies to the DB exists already, so we just want to know which we should go for and with what hardware. Obviously will pay for integration and setup.

The main site functions, features and creation of database, back-end admin, and so on will be the bulk of the work.

Email 2 SMS is very simple, so will just need the setup and integration of this feature.

Desktop 2 SMS will require the development of a small application.

Mobile 2 SMS will require the development of a WAP site to call certain functions. - should be quite straight forward.

API - I do not know what is required for this.

Please also detail your previous experience with SMS and whether there are any examples of your work. We will be looking for a supplier that can also provide support and on-going development of the concept.

The only reason I have chosen an undisclosed budget is because we did not want to tie ourselves to an amount, we are flexible to a degree.

If you have created a similar site in the past, great, please bid!