Although making use of an SMS API to send text messages from one's website or software application can sound like a fairly daunting task, many SMS providers offer simple HTTP SMS posting allowing one to send SMS text messages directly through their gateways. Generally speaking, one will need to setup an account with an SMS gateway provider in order to get started. Most providers will offer a bunch of messages with which one can test the service; thereafter one will need to purchase more messages. One of the world's most popular SMS gateway providers, Clickatell, offer real time HTTP SMS setup online through their website.

In the tutorial below, I will explain in a few simple steps how one can manually send SMS messages via the Clickatell HTTP Post. Note, that it is intended that developers will code their own commands around this API such that the relevant data can be extracted from their own systems. To that end, most providers offer additional code samples to assist with this sort of integration.

Step 1
Logon to their site www.clickatell.com and find the "SMS gateway" tab. Register for an HTTP API account. Once having done this you will be issued with what is called an API_ID. In order to send SMS via HTTP you will need the following bits of information:

Username (this you select when registering)
Password (this you select when registering)
API_ID (this gets issued to upon completion of registration)
The mobile number/s you would like to send the message to in international format e.g. a UK number would look like this: 448311234567
The message text itself e.g. "Meet me at the cafe in 10 minutes"

Step 2
Open your Browser (e.g. Internet Explorer), and type in your info in the address bar in the following sequence:

a) The basic start is http://api.clickatell.com/http/sendmsg?
b) Adding your personal authentication detail - you will then type the following into the browser:

http://api.clickatell.com/http/sendmsg?user=xxxxx&password
=xxxxx&api_id=xxxxx&to=448311234567=Meet+me+at+the+café+in+10+minutes

Press "Enter", and your message will be sent. If the message is sent successfully a confirmation code will appear in your browser. If not, you will receive an error message.

Joe Macon writes about a variety of technology topics, with a focus on SMS technology. For SMS HTTP he recommends http://www.clickatell.com .