How can I send a text message to a group using Access
I need to design a mechanism that will generate sending a text message to a queried list (group) of mobile phone numbers. One way I thought of doing this was using the sendobject function in Access and send an email, the address of the email would in fact be the phone number and carrier, for example, 8605557777@verizon.net. This would send an email to a mobile phone that accepts text or email messages. The process that I am trying to accomplish is to send a notification text or email to a cell phone. I'd like to set up a form in Access and have this function connected to a command button. To give a brief scenario of why I would want this function: if a staff meeting was being cancelled or delayed, I would want the ability to send an email (text message) to the staff members' cell phones. In today's world, it's much easier to reach a person by cell phone and not email. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am not an expert Access user, but am willing to put the time in to learn and understand. Thank you in advance for your time.
How about doing this using Outlook instead?
ASKER
I would rather it not be specific to an email program. One of our companies uses Groupwise(Novell) the other uses Outlook. I would want to send to both using the same program, or Access Form if possible.
ASKER
Also, I would want it to be part of Access, or possibly Excel. I'd like to set up a form with several options (buttons) to click. One button would be to send Cancelled meeting notification to cell phones, another button on the form would be .. Send notification that month end data has been posted., etc. So several buttons that would do different types of notifications to different groups.
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great Job boag
Hi Jeff, this is interesting but it sounds too good to be true.
Who pays for these texts messages? It appears that I would not need a mobile phone account myself in order to do this. So clearlY i'm not paying for them. I can't believe the recipient is going to be charged for them.
So why aren't the spam kings of the world bombarding everybody with spam texts?
Who pays for these texts messages? It appears that I would not need a mobile phone account myself in order to do this. So clearlY i'm not paying for them. I can't believe the recipient is going to be charged for them.
So why aren't the spam kings of the world bombarding everybody with spam texts?
Hi just tried with Vodafone UK and got an email bounced sorry but who knows if the others will work?
- These recipients of your message have been processed by the mail server: MyMobileNo@vodafone.net; Failed; 5.1.1 (bad destination mailbox address)
Remote MTA 10.196.79.80: SMTP diagnostic: 550 RCPT TO:<07795375158@vodafone.n
- These recipients of your message have been processed by the mail server: MyMobileNo@vodafone.net; Failed; 5.1.1 (bad destination mailbox address)
Remote MTA 10.196.79.80: SMTP diagnostic: 550 RCPT TO:<07795375158@vodafone.n
ASKER
From my experience, the person receiving the text on their cell phone is paying for the text message. Many carriers offer decent plans that give you unlimited text messages, or charge you either 4cents or 40 cents per, if you do not have a plan. So obviously, those people who want the notifications will have the plan in place or know they will be charged.
By the way this E_E seems to be a great service for us working folks!
By the way this E_E seems to be a great service for us working folks!
ASKER
And about the Spam kings of the world, I just started receiving spam text via my cell phone about a month or so ago. One of those stock market quote spams. I have no idea how they got my number, so I can only assume it was sent out to large groups of software generated numbers. If you don't have a text plan, then you have to call your carrier and tell them that you received spam text, then they credit your account, real pain in the pants. I think the carriers may have a way to block this spam, not sure.
peter57r, et al
<Who pays for these texts messages?>
Again, my guess is that the person receiving the message pays.
<It appears that I would not need a mobile phone account myself in order to do this. >
I did this from Access, It apparently is just an email on my (The Access side) It goes to the outbox, then gets sent. And eventually gets stored in the Sent Items folder in Outlook.
AFAICT, The sender just needs email. The recipient needs the phone.
<I can't believe the recipient is going to be charged for them. >
They probably will, Like everything else... you get a call, you pay,... You get a text message, you pay.
From the Q, these seem like corporate phones, so my guess is that the company pays, perhaps not the person directly, so it might not be an issue?
<So why aren't the spam kings of the world bombarding everybody with spam texts?>
I'm not sure,... my guesses...
-Probably for the same reason we don't get Junk "Calls" on our cell phones. (at least not yet, or at least not with my carrier)
-I know that spam type folks have been lobbying for years to get cell phone numbers, I don't know if they can easily get them yet. (Legally)
-Some kind of "Technology/Legal" reason?
-Maybe they will soon?
:-O
The question was "Can it be done?
What the consequences are...I can't say.
:O
It was interesting just how simple it was though.
You Google it, and get all these SMS programs, that use ActiveX controls to interact with VB6, .net, ASP.
When I thought of it, I realized, a text message is just an email with text only. Nothing new there!
:-)
I tried this to two different cell phones (and From two different email accounts) and it worked OK.
Did anyone else try it successfully?
JeffCoachman
<Who pays for these texts messages?>
Again, my guess is that the person receiving the message pays.
<It appears that I would not need a mobile phone account myself in order to do this. >
I did this from Access, It apparently is just an email on my (The Access side) It goes to the outbox, then gets sent. And eventually gets stored in the Sent Items folder in Outlook.
AFAICT, The sender just needs email. The recipient needs the phone.
<I can't believe the recipient is going to be charged for them. >
They probably will, Like everything else... you get a call, you pay,... You get a text message, you pay.
From the Q, these seem like corporate phones, so my guess is that the company pays, perhaps not the person directly, so it might not be an issue?
<So why aren't the spam kings of the world bombarding everybody with spam texts?>
I'm not sure,... my guesses...
-Probably for the same reason we don't get Junk "Calls" on our cell phones. (at least not yet, or at least not with my carrier)
-I know that spam type folks have been lobbying for years to get cell phone numbers, I don't know if they can easily get them yet. (Legally)
-Some kind of "Technology/Legal" reason?
-Maybe they will soon?
:-O
The question was "Can it be done?
What the consequences are...I can't say.
:O
It was interesting just how simple it was though.
You Google it, and get all these SMS programs, that use ActiveX controls to interact with VB6, .net, ASP.
When I thought of it, I realized, a text message is just an email with text only. Nothing new there!
:-)
I tried this to two different cell phones (and From two different email accounts) and it worked OK.
Did anyone else try it successfully?
JeffCoachman
TextReport,
<just tried with Vodafone UK and got an email bounced >
Again, I am no Text/SMS expert....
Perhaps the phone could not accept text messages?
Perhaps the email suffix was wrong or out of date?
Perhaps some cell carriers "Block" text messages from certain sources?
...don't know.
I tried it to two Verizon phones and it worked OK.
Let's see if anybody else has any success?
JeffCoachman
<just tried with Vodafone UK and got an email bounced >
Again, I am no Text/SMS expert....
Perhaps the phone could not accept text messages?
Perhaps the email suffix was wrong or out of date?
Perhaps some cell carriers "Block" text messages from certain sources?
...don't know.
I tried it to two Verizon phones and it worked OK.
Let's see if anybody else has any success?
JeffCoachman
peter57r,
Did you try it to see if it worked, in any event?
I just need independent verification that it works for someone besides me!
:-O
JeffCoachman
Did you try it to see if it worked, in any event?
I just need independent verification that it works for someone besides me!
:-O
JeffCoachman
Sunrize555,
I almost forgot about you!
Did it work for you?
JeffCoachman
I almost forgot about you!
Did it work for you?
JeffCoachman
ASKER
Hi JC, I will try putting it in this weekend. Into a command box that is.
ASKER
Hi Jeff, I'm going to accept this solution, thank you. I have not got it to work yet, but I'll play around with the send command some more, and will use this link as a reference once I go further into the design of the processs. One again, thank everyone for their time and expertise and look forward to working with you again (probably really soon) in the future. Sunrize555
Sunrize555,
Thanks, but you are under no obligation to accept my post unless you can actually get it working.
;-)
I am in no rush, and I am still interested if other got it to work as well.
You can re-open the Q if you like:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/support.jsp
Let us know
JeffCoachman
Thanks, but you are under no obligation to accept my post unless you can actually get it working.
;-)
I am in no rush, and I am still interested if other got it to work as well.
You can re-open the Q if you like:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/support.jsp
Let us know
JeffCoachman
ASKER
Hi Jeff:
Sorry for the delay in response - I did get it to work, it's brilliant and simple solution. What I did was set up a macro to run on the click in a form.. "=Nz(DLookUp("[E-Mail Address]","Contacts","ID="
I sent it to my mobile phone (Verizon carrier), I have text messaging plan set up for my cell phone already. And yes, the person receiving the text msg is obligated for that cost. I think it's 4 cents a message or thereabouts. But when you think about how much Gas costs, and if it can save you a drive in to a meeting that's cancelled, it's well worth the nickel.
Thanks again, you guys are super. Keep an eye out for ID:23168603, I am now working this into a full blown notification system for students and instructors, it's an involved process but looks like fun. So many projects, so little time :)
Sunrz
Sorry for the delay in response - I did get it to work, it's brilliant and simple solution. What I did was set up a macro to run on the click in a form.. "=Nz(DLookUp("[E-Mail Address]","Contacts","ID="
I sent it to my mobile phone (Verizon carrier), I have text messaging plan set up for my cell phone already. And yes, the person receiving the text msg is obligated for that cost. I think it's 4 cents a message or thereabouts. But when you think about how much Gas costs, and if it can save you a drive in to a meeting that's cancelled, it's well worth the nickel.
Thanks again, you guys are super. Keep an eye out for ID:23168603, I am now working this into a full blown notification system for students and instructors, it's an involved process but looks like fun. So many projects, so little time :)
Sunrz
:-)
ASKER
Also please check out ID:23178229.
The beat goes on!
Have a day full of sunshine!
The beat goes on!
Have a day full of sunshine!