SMS

SMS settings for IoT applications

Simbase SIM cards can be used to send SMS messages to and from our SMS short code (+55555). By default, all our SIM cards are protected against inbound and outbound SMS messages; only SMS messages to and from our server are allowed.

To be able to send SMS messages to numbers other than 55555, you need to have a phone number (MSISDN) assigned to the SIM card. More information can be found on our FAQ page.

There are three ways to interact via SMS with your device.

1. Platform

2. Webhooks

3. API

4. How SMS works with your SIM profile.

1. Platform SMS

Simbase SIM cards come with a handy feature to make sending SMS commands much easier. Instead of having to use your phone to send an SMS to your SIM card, you can do it via the Simbase dashboard. There are two options to send an SMS from the dashboard to your SIMs.

1. Send an SMS to a SIM.

2. Send SMS in bulk to multiple SIMs.

Send an SMS to a SIM

The quickest way to send an SMS to your SIM is directly from the SIM overview. Use filters, tags, or the search field to find the SIM you would like to send the SMS. Then follow the steps below.

1. Log into your Simbase dashboard.

2. Navigate to 'SIM cards' which can be located on the left side of the dashboard.

3. Navigate and click on the menu, located on the right side of the SIM overview table.

4. Select 'Send' under the SMS tab in the dropdown that appears.

5. A pop-up will appear with a text field.

6. Enter your SMS message and click 'Send'

An alternative method, particularly useful when anticipating a response from the device, involves sending the SMS through the SIM card details page. To start the process and view the SMS response, please follow the below steps:

1. Log into your Simbase dashboard.

2. Navigate to 'SIM cards' which can be located on the left side of the dashboard.

3. Select the SIM card you wish to send SMS from.

4. Select the 'SMS' tab and an SMS inbox will appear.

5. Enter your SMS message and click the envelope icon

6. See the sent SMS appear in the inbox.

Send SMS in bulk to multiple SIMs.

The quickest way to send SMS commands in bulk is by selecting the SIM cards directly in the SIM overview. Use filters, tags, or search to find all SIMs you would like to send the SMS to. Then follow these steps too.

1. Log into your Simbase dashboard.

2. Navigate to 'SIM cards' which can be located on the left side of the dashboard.

3. Filter, search, or use tags to select all SIMs you want to SMS.

4. Select all SIMs at once using the check box at the top of the overview.

5. Select 'Send SMS' in the action bar that appears upon selecting the items

6. optionally deselect any SIM that you don't want to include in the bulk SMS.

7. A pop-up will appear with a text field.

8. Enter your SMS message and click 'Send'

9. All selected SIMs will receive the same message.

2. Webhooks

If you set up a webhook endpoint for SMS messages in our platform, our server calls your endpoint, the moment it receives a message from your device. The message will have the following format:

{
  "event": "sms",
  "iccid": "8910300000001234567",
  "timestamp": "2022-11-22 09:43:17",
  "message": "test SMS message",
  "deviceName": "Demo device"
}

Learn more on how to set up webhooks here.

3. API

Our API supports sending and reading SMS messages that were sent to our servers. Please see the API documentation for detailed instructions

4. How SMS works with your SIM profile.

Simbase uses multiple SIM profiles designed to meet different customer needs. SMS behavior may vary depending on the SIM profile in use.

For the below SIM profiles, SMS is only supported between the device and the platform. These SIMs do not come with MSISDNs(phone numbers) assigned and cannot receive or send SMS messages from/to other external phone numbers. For an additional fee and a 1 year commitment, we can add MSISDNs to these SIMs. For more info, contact support.

Black

Red

Green

These SIMs can also be recognized based on the ICCID format: 89103****.

If you are using one of the SIM profiles listed below, please note that each already includes an assigned MSISDN (phone number). These numbers can typically receive SMS messages from external senders, provided the originating carrier supports delivery to them. However, they are not able to send replies back to external numbers. Any SMS messages sent from the device itself will instead be captured and displayed in the Simbase dashboard. Blue

Yellow

Cyan

Purple

These SIMs can also be recognized based on the ICCID format: 8944****.