10. How to Send SMS Messages from a Computer / PC?

In general, there are two ways to send SMS messages from a computer / PC to a mobile phone:

Connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer / PC. Then use the computer / PC and AT commands to instruct the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to send SMS messages.

Connect the computer / PC to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier or SMS service provider. Then send SMS messages using a protocol / interface supported by the SMSC or SMS gateway.

If you do not want to develop SMS software or applications but just want to use your computer / PC to send text messages, you may want to read our Quick Guide for Non-Developers.

10.1. The 1st Way: Sending SMS Messages from a Computer Using a Mobile Phone or GSM/GPRS Modem

The SMS specification has defined a way for a computer to send SMS messages through a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. A GSM/GPRS modem is a wireless modem that works with GSM/GPRS wireless networks. A wireless modem is similar to a dial-up modem. The main difference is that a wireless modem transmits data through a wireless network whereas a dial-up modem transmits data through a copper telephone line. More information about GSM/GPRS modems will be provided in the section «Introduction to GSM / GPRS Wireless Modems». Most mobile phones can be used as a wireless modem. However, some mobile phones have certain limitations comparing to GSM/GPRS modems. This will be discussed in the section «Which is Better: Mobile Phone or GSM / GPRS Modem» later.

To send SMS messages, first place a valid SIM card from a wireless carrier into a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem, which is then connected to a computer. There are several ways to connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer. For example, they can be connected through a serial cable, a USB cable, a Bluetooth link or an infrared link. The actual way to use depends on the capability of the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. For example, if a mobile phone does not support Bluetooth, it cannot connect to the computer through a Bluetooth link.

After connecting a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer, you can control the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem by sending instructions to it. The instructions used for controlling the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem are called AT commands. (AT commands are also used to control dial-up modems for wired telephone system.) Dial-up modems, mobile phones and GSM/GPRS modems support a common set of standard AT commands. In addition to this common set of standard AT commands, mobile phones and GSM/GPRS modems support an extended set of AT commands. One use of the extended AT commands is to control the sending and receiving of SMS messages.

The following table lists the AT commands that are related to the writing and sending of SMS messages:

Send message from storage

Write message to memory

More messages to send

One way to send AT commands to a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem is to use a terminal program. A terminal program’s function is like this: It sends the characters you typed to the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. It then displays the response it receives from the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem on the screen. The terminal program on Microsoft Windows is called HyperTerminal. More details about the use of Microsoft HyperTerminal can be found in the «How to Use Microsoft HyperTerminal to Send AT Commands to a Mobile Phone or GSM/GPRS Modem» section of this SMS tutorial.

Below shows a simple example that demonstrates how to use AT commands and the HyperTerminal program of Microsoft Windows to send an SMS text message. The lines in bold type are the command lines that should be entered in HyperTerminal. The other lines are responses returned from the GSM / GPRS modem or mobile phone.

AT
OK
AT+CMGF=1
OK
AT+CMGW=»+85291234567″
> A simple demo of SMS text messaging.
+CMGW: 1

OK
AT+CMSS=1
+CMSS: 20

Here is a description of what is done in the above example:

Line 1: «AT» is sent to the GSM / GPRS modem to test the connection. The GSM / GPRS modem sends back the result code «OK» (line 2), which means the connection between the HyperTerminal program and the GSM / GPRS modem works fine.

Line 3: The AT command +CMGF is used to instruct the GSM / GPRS modem to operate in SMS text mode. The result code «OK» is returned (line 4), which indicates the command line «AT+CMGF=1» has been executed successfully. If the result code «ERROR» is returned, it is likely that the GSM / GPRS modem does not support the SMS text mode. To confirm, type «AT+CMGF=?» in the HyperTerminal program. If the response is «+CMGF: (0,1)» (0=PDU mode and 1=text mode), then SMS text mode is supported. If the response is «+CMGF: (0)», then SMS text mode is not supported.

Line 5 and 6: The AT command +CMGW is used to write an SMS text message to the message storage of the GSM / GPRS modem. «+85291234567» is the recipient mobile phone number. After typing the recipient mobile phone number, you should press the Enter button of the keyboard. The GSM / GPRS modem will then return a prompt «> » and you can start typing the SMS text message «A simple demo of SMS text messaging.». When finished, press Ctrl+z of the keyboard.

Line 7: «+CMGW: 1» tells us that the index assigned to the SMS text message is 1. It indicates the location of the SMS text message in the message storage.

Line 9: The result code «OK» indicates the execution of the AT command +CMGW is successful.

Line 10: The AT command +CMSS is used to send the SMS text message from the message storage of the GSM / GPRS modem. «1» is the index of the SMS text message obtained from line 7.

Line 11: «+CMSS: 20» tells us that the reference number assigned to the SMS text message is 20.

Line 13: The result code «OK» indicates the execution of the AT command +CMSS is successful.

To send SMS messages from an application, you have to write the source code for connecting to and sending AT commands to the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem, just like what a terminal program does. You can write the source code in C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, Delphi or other programming languages you like. However, writing your own code has a few disadvantages:

You have to learn how to use AT commands.

You have to learn how to compose the bits and bytes of an SMS message. For example, to specify the character encoding (e.g. 7-bit encoding and 16-bit Unicode encoding) of an SMS message, you need to know which bits in the message header should be modified and what value should be assigned.

Sending SMS messages with a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem has a drawback — the SMS transmission speed is low. As your SMS messaging application becomes more popular, it has to handle a larger amount of SMS traffic and finally the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem will not be able to take the load. To obtain a high SMS transmission speed, a direct connection to an SMSC or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier or SMS service provider is needed. However, AT commands are not used for communicating with an SMS center or SMS gateway. This means your have to make a big change to your SMS messaging application in order to move from a wireless-modem-based solution to a SMSC-based solution.

In most cases, instead of writing your own code for interacting with the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem via AT commands, a better solution is to use a high-level SMS messaging API (Application programming interface) / SDK (Software development kit) / library. The API / SDK / library encapsulates the low-level details. So, an SMS application developer does not need to know AT commands and the composition of SMS messages in the bit-level. Some SMS messaging APIs / SDKs / libraries support SMSC protocols in addition to AT commands. To move from a wireless-modem-based SMS solution to a SMSC-based SMS solution, usually you just need to modify a configuration file / property file or make a few changes to your SMS messaging application’s source code.

The links to some open source and free SMS messaging libraries can be found in the article «Free Libraries/Tools for Sending/Receiving SMS with a Computer».

Another way to hide the low-level AT command layer is to place an SMS gateway between the SMS messaging application and the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. (This has been described in the section «What is an SMS Gateway?» earlier.) Simple protocols such as HTTP / HTTPS can then be used for sending SMS messages in the application. If an SMSC protocol (e.g. SMPP, CIMD, etc) is used for communicating with the SMS gateway instead of HTTP / HTTPS, an SMS messaging API / SDK / library can be very helpful to you since it encapsulates the SMSC protocol’s details.

Usually a list of supported / unsupported mobile phones or wireless modems is provided on the web site of an SMS messaging API / SDK / library or an SMS gateway software package. Remember to check the list if you are going to use an SMS messaging API / SDK / library or an SMS gateway software package.

Send SMS from Windows PC without Internet

Now sending SMS from a Windows Computer to Mobile Phones is easy and fast with Daanav SMS Software. In order to send SMS Message with SMS Software presented here, you do not need access to Internet. This SMS Software works on Windows 7 and onwards Operating Systems of Microsoft including Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1. In this Free Demo SMS Software, all you need to do is enter the Mobile Number to which you want to send SMS and click on the send SMS button. This way of sending SMS gives you privacy and you do not need to share the mobile numbers to which you wish to send SMS Message.

SMS Software for Windows

Apart from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and this SMS Software, you would also need a USB Modem connected to your Windows Computer. Download this SMS Software on your Windows Computer and check it’s performance with your 2G, 3G or 4G Modem. In the SMS Software Screenshot above a 3G Modem was connected to a Windows 7 computer. Note the status Window displays the status of the Device and also confirms that SMS Messages can be sent now. The SMS Body is pre-configured and all you need to enter is the desired Mobile Number to which you wish to send the SMS Message.

Main Screen of Bulk SMS Software captured on a Windows Computer

Another way in which you can send SMS Messages to Mobiles / Tablets from your Windows Computer is with the help of Bulk SMS Software by Daanav.com. The above screenshot displays the main screen of Bulk SMS Software with which you can enter your own message to be sent and specify the Mobile Numbers from a Unicode .txt file. Note that there is a Help button on the main screen of the Bulk SMS Sender Software which explains the complete process to send Bulk SMS Messages from Windows Computer without the need of Internet.

Windows SMS Application Connected with 3G Modem

In case you want to send only few messages, you do not need the complexity of the Bulk SMS Software and you can use the SMS Sender Software. Yes you would need an appropriate 3G or 4G Modem connected with your Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Computer. You do not need to create any account to get User ID / Password or complex authentication procedure. The Money for SMS Sent will be deducted from your SIM Card balance. Note in the above Screenshot of the SMS Software, the status bar of the Application displays current state of the 3G Modem connected to the Windows Computer.

In case you would like to send SMS Messages from your Windows Computer from a 3rd party application, you can hide our custom software development services to provide you complete software solution incorporating SMS functionality in your application. The SMS technology used in above applications interacts with the 3G Modem and reports back whether the SMS Message has been delivered or not. In order to verify the interaction between Windows Computer and the 3G Modem which is external hardware, you can use the first application presented in this post. Note that none of the above SMS Software Applications require Internet to Send SMS Messages and the SMS Messages are only delivered using your SIM card’s Mobile Operator’s Network.

Every time an SMS Message is sent with any of the above displayed SMS Software Applications, a unique ID is generated and tracked appropriately providing confirmation of whether the SMS Message has been sent or not. Our Custom Software Development services can provide you a custom made SMS Application and test it appropriately so that it does interacts with the rest of the process followed by your existing Software Application. Yes we can also provide you a Command Line Interface with which you can send SMS Messages from Windows Computer from Command Prompt or from batch files.

How to send and receive SMS text in Windows 10 [QUICK GUIDE]

When you were young, rocking your brand new Windows XP, you probably wanted to send SMS texts from your computer, at least once.

Well, Microsoft finally fulfilled your old wish in Windows 10. You’re now able to actually send text messages from your computer, courtesy of Windows 10‘s virtual assistant, Cortana.

With Cortana, you can easily send text messages from your computer to anyone in your contacts list. So, if you need to send a message quickly, but you’re not by your phone, just let Cortana do the job for you.

Note: This ability came with the Threshold 2 update fromWindows 10 . Therefore, you need to run at least that version of the system to be able to send SMS messages from your computer.

How can I send and receive text messages with Cortana in Windows 10?

This option currently works with Windows 10 Mobile devices only. Although Microsoft constantly works on improving Cortana for Android, we don’t know when this feature will arrive to Google’s OS.

First thing you need to do to be able to receive and send messages from your Windows 10 computer is to make sure you connect your devices.

To make sure you PC and Windows 10 Mobile devices are connected, do the following (of course, we assume you already set up Cortana on both devices):

1. Open Cortana on your Windows 10 PC
2. Expand the hamburger menu, and go to Settings
3. Make sure ‘Send notifications between devices’ is enabled
4. Now, open Cortana on your Windows 10 Mobile device
5. Go to Notebook > Settings
6. Make sure ‘Send phone notifications’ is enabled

Once you make sure your devices are connected, you’re good to start sending and receiving text messages from your Windows 10 PC.

Let’s start with receiving messages.

When your Windows 10 devices are connected, you will automatically receive notifications about a missed call or a received SMS message from your Windows 10 Mobile phone to your Windows 10 PC.

Microsoft introduced this ability with some of the previous Windows 10 Preview builds.

Once you receive a notification about the text message you received on your phone, you can reply directly from that notification banner. Just hit ‘Reply’ button.

Sending messages is as easy as receiving them. Here’s how to send text messages from your Windows 10 computer with Cortana:

1. If ‘Hey Cortana’ is enabled, just say “Hey Cortana, send a message to..”
2. She will automatically open the window where you can customize your message (write text, add recipients,…)
3. If you don’t have ‘Hey Cortana’ feature enabled, just open Cortana, and write ‘send text message‘
4. The same window will open, and you’ll be able to customize your message
5. Once you click Send, Cortana will connect with your phone, and a message will be sent

There you go, sending text messages from your computer have never been easier.

Just keep in mind that you can only send text messages to contacts in your People app, as you can’t add recipient’s number manually, so make sure a person you’re sending a message to is in your contacts list.

We hope that this article was helpful, and that sending messages now appears easier for you. If you have any comments or questions, just let us know in the comments below.