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SMS-2-SMS setup

SMS-2-SMS setup

SMS2SMS is a powerful feature that enables the automatic sending of SMS messages to a predefined group via a single incoming SMS. Although it may sound like a detour, this kind of SMS automation opens up a number of effective communication scenarios.

This guide will walk you through what SMS2SMS is, how it can be used in practice and how you can easily set it up and test it on the SureSMS platform.

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What is SMS2SMS?

The core of the SMS2SMS functionality is to turn a single incoming SMS into a bulk SMS broadcast. A user sends an SMS message to a dedicated virtual phone number on the SureSMS platform. The message must start with a specific SMS keyword that is associated with a contact group.

The platform recognizes the keyword, removes it from the message and forwards the remaining text to all members of that group. This creates a simple yet effective SMS gateway for group communication without the need to log into a platform or access complete contact lists.

What scenarios can SMS2SMS be used in?

The flexibility of SMS2SMS makes it useful in many different situations where fast and targeted communication is needed. Here are some examples:

Scenario	Description of use
Housing associations	A contractor can send a message to a central number with a keyword for a specific hallway (e.g. "Hallway5A We shut off the water at 2pm"). The message is automatically sent to all residents in that hallway without the contractor having access to their private phone numbers.
Employees in the field	An employee who needs assistance can send an SMS to a group based on geography (e.g. "HJØRRING I need help at address X"). The system sends the message to all colleagues in the Hjørring team.
School bus driving	A delayed driver can quickly inform all parents on a specific route by sending an SMS like "ROUTE1 Bus is 20 minutes late due to traffic".
Sports clubs	A football coach can cancel training at the last minute by sending a message to his team's keyword (e.g. "U12 TEAM Training canceled due to rain"). The message goes out to all players and parents on the list.

These scenarios illustrate how SMS automation can centralize and simplify communication while maintaining data security, as the sender does not need to manage or have access to the recipient lists.

How do I set up SMS2SMS in SureSMS?

Setting up SMS2SMS on the SureSMS platform involves three main steps: ordering an incoming number, creating a contact group with a keyword, and configuring the group settings. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Order an incoming phone number

In order to receive SMS messages, you must have a dedicated number on the platform.

Navigate to Settings and select Sender name.
Click the Order button to see a list of available virtual phone numbers.
Select a number from the list and confirm the order.
When the number appears in your list of sender values, mark it as the Default number. This is done to specify that this is the number the platform should use to receive incoming messages. The number will have a green check mark indicating that it is a virtual long number

Step 2: Create a contact group and a keyword

The next step is to organize the contacts that will receive the messages into a group and assign a unique keyword.

Go to Address Book and select Groups.
Create a new group or edit an existing one.
Group name: Select an internal name for the group (e.g. "Ballgame2025").
Keyword: This is the most important field. Choose a unique and easily recognizable SMS keyword (e.g. "ball games"). This is the word the sender must start their SMS with to send to this group.
Add contacts to the group. You can either do this manually or import a list.

Step 3: Configure the group settings

For the SMS2SMS feature to work correctly, the group settings must be configured.

Always use the sender name: Here you decide what should be the sender of the SMS messages sent out to the group.
- Not set: Recipients will see the sender's (e.g. craftsman's) own phone number. Replies will go directly to this person.
- Specific number/name: You can choose one of your verified numbers or an alphanumeric sender ID (e.g. "SureSMS") that cannot be answered. This is ideal for one-way communication.
Only allowed senders: To avoid abuse, you can restrict who can send to the group. Under this field you can select a different group (e.g. "Craftsmen" or "Coaches") and only members of this group will be allowed to use the SMS2SMS feature.
- If the field is set to Not set, anyone who knows your incoming number and keyword can send a message to the group.
Disable incoming SMS to group: Make sure this feature is not enabled as it will block the SMS2SMS functionality.
Save your settings.

Test your SMS2SMS setup

Once setup is complete, it's simple to test if your SMS automation is working as intended.

Ensure the sender is authorized: If you have set a restriction on who can send (Step 3, point 2), make sure that the phone number you are sending from is a member of the approved sender group.
Send the test SMS: From your mobile phone (or another phone on the approved senders list), send an SMS to the incoming phone number you ordered in Step 1.
Structure the message correctly: Start the message with your chosen keyword, followed by a space and then the message itself.
- Example: Ball games Today's training has been moved to 19:00.
Verify in Outbox: Go to Outbox on the SureSMS platform. Here you will be able to see:
- The original incoming SMS from your phone number containing the keyword.
- A series of new outgoing SMS messages (one for each contact in your group). The text of these messages will be the same as your original message, but without the keyword.

If the outgoing messages have been generated and sent to all contacts in the group, your SMS2SMS setup is successful. You now have a fully functional solution for fast and efficient group SMS.