Dynamic content adaptation and conversion services in the gateway’s Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (MMSC) provides content conversion services for multimedia messages prior to message delivery. The MMSC uses WAP/MMS “User Agent Profile” capabilities to determine the MIME formats that a device supports, as well as the maximum size of images supported by the device. Where required, the MMSC converts between common image formats (including, but not limited to GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP and WBMP) to deliver an image supported by the device. For images larger than the maximum size supported by the device, the MMSC will automatically scale the image to fit the device, speeding up download times. For audio formats, conversion between WAV and AMR is provided in the e-mail gateway interface. MIME types not supported by the receiving device, which cannot be converted, will be removed prior to delivery to the receiving device to prevent compatibility issues and unnecessary download delays.
Unicode support enables the gateway to be deployed in varied international markets, enabling support for multilingual environments, including the Chinese and Japanese languages, among others.
Additional new features in the v4.0 release include an SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) server, in addition to existing SMPP client capabilities. SMPP Server support simplifies the process of linking multiple gateways and applications, and provides increased capabilities for SMS and MMS message routing.
The SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) gateway has also been extended to support SMTP Authentication, enabling use of an e-mail client interface for the bulk delivery of SMS and/or MMS messages.
An evaluation version of the Now SMS/MMS Gateway is available for download from the web site http://www.nowsms.com. The evaluation product is a fully functional SMS gateway and Multimedia Messaging Center (MMSC), allowing users to send and receive both SMS and MMS messages, with the gateway software connected to the GSM network via either GSM modems or a variety of protocols that support internet connectivity to mobile operator SMS Centers (SMSCs).
The MMSC capabilities of the gateway support the exchange of multimedia messages between MMS-compatible mobile phones, as well as between mobile phones and internet e-mail recipients. New multimedia messages can be sent to mobile phones via an e-mail interface, or via simple web-based forms and web-based applications. An MMS message compiler tool, included with the product, simplifies the process of packaging MMS content for delivery.
“Anyone with a mobile phone and the appropriate modem cable to connect that mobile phone to a computer can install our gateway and begin sending and receiving MMS messages today,” commented Bryce Norwood, Director of Technology for Now Wireless. “Customers with higher volume messaging requirements can, of course, use internet based protocols to connect the gateway directly to operator systems. However, the GSM modem capability, using one of many ordinary phones sold today, provides a low barrier to entry toward implementing multimedia messaging technology.”
Additionally, the Now SMS/MMS gateway provides support for 2-way SMS and MMS for interactive application development. SMS messages received by the gateway can trigger either an executable program to be run, or an HTTP request. Simple text responses back to the user can be returned as output of the request. More complex responses, including MMS or other binary SMS content, are also supported.
Essential SMS tools for WAP developers are provided by the gateway, including a simple, efficient tool for generating WAP Push messages independent of the operator WAP gateway, and comprehensive tools to support the over-the-air (OTA) sending of WAP profiles and configuration information via SMS.
The gateway also supports standard SMS text messaging,
including support for SMS messages longer than 160 characters, and other binary
SMS message formats including
“There is a lot of noise in the market about MMS solutions,” stated Brian Jackson, Managing Director of Now Wireless. “What the mobile wireless market needs right now are not more promises, but real-world deployable solutions like the Now SMS/MMS Gateway, which can be openly tested and evaluated with no obligation. Our expertise is in technology, not marketing, and we believe the best marketing for our solution is to let it speak for itself as a fully functional, and supported, 60-day evaluation version.”
For more information about the Now SMS/MMS gateway, including a free 60-day evaluation version, visit http://www.nowsms.com, or call Now Wireless at +44 208 286 8080. E-mail inquiries may be directed to nowsms@now.co.uk.
Press inquiries may contact Beril Sener at Now Wireless