SMS Broadcast License

SMS messaging, or to use its more common name ‘text messaging’, is moving well and truly out of the consumer realm – and is now being used more and more to communicate in a business environment. If you already have our Landline to Mobile Cost Saving solution, or if you are thinking of implementing one, then you could also benefit from this service.

What does it do?
With the ability to broadcast bulk SMS messages, you can communicate not only with all staff members but also with wider communities such as your customers or suppliers – or, in the case of the public sector, with citizens, residents, patients and so on. An SMS Broadcast solution enables fast and efficient communication for meeting or appointment reminders, marketing messages, IT updates and so on. The list is endless! Not only this, but it’s a proven fact that SMS messages are more readily responded to than phone calls, or the often ensuing voicemail message which has to be left if a person is unavailable.

Taking the NHS as an example, in a secondary care (outpatient) environment – the use of automated SMS messaging as an appointment reminder has significantly reduced the number of non-attended appointments. Published statistics indicate that, with an average missed appointment cost that has been calculated at £101 each, the projected saving if all hospitals invested in the service could be in the region of £300m – whilst waiting times could be reduced by as much as 11%.

How does it work?
Your existing Obsidian Landline to Mobile Cost Saving solution is based upon a GSM Gateway, which is connected to your PBX. By simply upgrading to an SMS Server and License, it becomes possible to send SMS messages to individuals or groups via your email programme – for example, Microsoft Outlook. Likewise, incoming SMS messages can be automatically forwarded to a destination email address. Messages can be sent and received from any computer in your network that is enabled to send and receive emails.

The user simply composes message within their email programme and then the SMS Server converts this into an SMS Message and transmits it as an SMS. Messages can be sent to existing contacts within the user’s email programme or they can use the SMS Server to configure groups. Incoming SMS message replies are then automatically converted to email and forwarded to the appropriate receiver, or group of receivers.

User benefits

Technical information
The Obsidian SMS Server can be installed on any PC that meets the following minimum requirements: