Using the Pi for SMS

[CaptSunset]

SMS seems to be gaining in importance; one example is that recently Google, Microsoft and Netflix all asked me for a number for them to send SMS verifications- not email and not landline.

I was a bit surprised at the lack of interest here in using the Pi for texting. It seems a good use for any older Pi and of course a reasonable keyboard is beyond ergonomic.

I did a bit off research and it was a hotter topic a couple years ago, but here's a few interesting links I found:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/05/ ... erry-pi-3/

http://webiopi.trouch.com/

https://pi.gate.ac.uk/pages/notipi.html

http://tuxmobil.org/phones_linux_sms.html

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2259611

https://www.20papercups.net/programming ... -on-linux/

btw, that 'Google Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository' is still empty; perhaps they should check out Youtube?:]

Do you guys think SMS is worth the time for a relative beginner?

[topguy]

For two factor authentication SMS is pretty useful, but I would say that it's "two factor authentication" and not SMS that are getting popular.
SMS has already passed its peak, more and more messages are going via Facebook messenger and Google Chat (Hangout).

On a global scale the total number of SMS'es are still rising but that is more about the continuing rise in number of mobile phone users.
In markets where "everyone" already have their phone the number of SMSes are in decline: http://www.statista.com/statistics/2715 ... ingdom-uk/

To send and receive SMS messages you would need a modem and a SIM card ( maybe for a separate account), most people don't have that lying around. And in most markets SMS are still not free.

[HawaiianPi]

...To send and receive SMS messages you would need a modem and a SIM card ( maybe for a separate account), most people don't have that lying around. And in most markets SMS are still not free.

Not to send (at least in the USA). A lot of carriers will let you send an SMS with email. For example, to "text" someone on T-Mobile you would send an email to their-ten-digit-phone-number @tmomail.net. For AT&T it's @txt.att.net.

Not sure how it is for those of you living elsewhere.

Also, that whole authentication thing is backfiring on people who use their phones. If your phone is lost or stolen, a thief can use SMS verification to reset passwords and access your bank accounts and such. Not too mention, the SMS messaging system itself is not very secure.

[topguy]

The point of two-factor authentication is that you cant break it with just one part. You cant access my microsoft account even if you steal my phone, you need my password as well.
I'm not saying that every such scheme is unbreakable but they should be tough if properly implemented.

I'm aware that there exists web-gateways for SMS, but I assumed the OP was talking about both sending and receiving SMS.

[leol]

As well as using a modem and SIM card there are a number of providers that let you send and receive Texts via a web service.
In the UK I have used Connection Software ( https://www.csoft.co.uk/ ) extensively. Don't know if they are better or worse than others but I have always fond them helpful and reliable.

[kusti8]

The problem is always that none of them are free, because you're getting an actual phone number. You could use Google Voice, that might work. I use Instapush but that doesn't have 2 way sending. You could make an app with websockets and port forwarding. It's an iffy situation.

[CaptSunset]

'My password is the last 8 digits of Pi.'

(falls off chair)

[CaptSunset]

Thanks guys, I learned more here than I did rooting around the interweb.

My interest is partly because we here live in the immediate vicinity of an aging nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Michigan. My new Droid has an emergency alert feature but apparently our area is not set up for pushed alerts. In the summer the population mushrooms from 5000 to 50000 and there are all the boaters on the lake to consider as well... just an idea.

[SonOfAMotherlessGoat]

Well, there may be another solution that doesn't involve SMS and 50k+ recipients What would you like your project to do, I've read through the posts and I'm not quite clear on what you are trying to accomplish. Can you share a little more in detail of your goals? (I too live in the very near vicinity of a Nuclear Generator and can hear the old Air Raid sirens when they test the alert system.)