Database Users

Text Messaging Over Internet

I have unlimited internet for my HTC Vogue, but no free text messaging. Does anyone know of a program that lets you send text messages over the internet instead of as a text message? I know there are websites that do this, but they're kinda annoying to use. I'm on Bell too if thats important.

Buy a $5 text messaging package But seriously it’s probably going to be a bigger pain to jump through those kinds of hoops then it’s worth. What if someone text messages you? It will come in as a regular text message, it will not get routed through the Internet even if you send your original txt through some website or via some special software.
I use OctroTalk as my XMPP client (jabber/Google Talk) to get connected to Google Talk.

You can use AIM. I'm not sure if it sends SMS to out of the US though, but if they are in the US just do +1(number)

It may be possible, but I haven't seen this. SMS is huge these days, so I'm sure carriers try to prevent this from happening since they probably make a good deal of money with these text packages.
I do know however, that when I used to use the VZAccess Manager to tether my phone, I could sends SMS. I didn't have a text plan, since it was just a USB modem, turns out the text would take away from my allowed data usage of 5GB. I kept asking the rep how it was possible, but of course she had no idea.
Either way, just spend the small amount of money for the text, I'm sure you get a bunch for about $5.

TheChampJT said:
SMS is huge these days
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SMS is really very useful. It’s like IM everywhere all the time. The new ROM from Bell Mobility for the Vogue has threaded SMS which makes it just like having an IM app.
I also have various RAID arrays and environmental monitors (temp, humidity, etc) in server rooms across the GTA that will SMS me when something goes wrong. It’s such a great way for me to add value to the services I offer my customers. I can walk in their front door because something is wrong before they even know there is a problem.
The Fish

Text messaging over the Internet is trivial. All you have to do is send an email to the carrier's EMAIL/SMS gateway. The tricky thing of course is that you need to know the carrier of the recipient and the carrier's gateway. There are lists of these things on the Internet. For example, here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_gateway
Just a few are:
Verizon: [email protected]
Sprint: [email protected]
Tmobile: [email protected]
AT&T/Cingular: [email protected]
Using any decent email client to send the email. Limit the entire text to 160 characters. The other issue is what you put down as a reply address, your email address or your phone's address (which is just like that listed above). That would depend on whether you *really* don't want to RECEIVE replies by SMS either.
If you don't know the recipient's carrier, you can try the service TELEFLIP.COM. Send the textmsg email to:
[email protected]
and it will figure out the carrier for you. It mostly works, but isn't 100%.
Oh, and there are also analogous carrier email gateways for MMS (picture msgs). They are also listed in the link above. For example, for Sprint, send the email with the pic attached to:
[email protected]

awesome, thanks.
that's exactly what I was hoping for.
I know it's only $5, but I'm pretty cheap

GChat on desktop with phone nearby

Has anyone cracked the code on when Google chat on the phone ignores desktop chat and when it doesn't? I have seen that sometimes when I chat with my friends on my desktop, sometimes my phone beeps for every line entered by the other party and sometimes it doesn't. I think in a perfect world, the phone should beep for the "first" line of text, and if I answer on the desktop, it should ignore the rest (but still record them for posterity). And if I answer on the phone, perhaps it should just haptic vibrate for each line of text received after the "first". I say "first" in quotes because I imagine that would be difficult to manage pragmatically. When is it the first chat of a new "session", and when is it just a delay in between chat lines of the same session? Maybe a customizable interval, like say five minutes. If no text is received within five minutes then it is a new session, so beep on the first line?
Lat night I was chatting with a friend (I was on the desktop) and every time he sent something, my phone would beep. Not the best solution in my opinion.

From what I can tell, your phone will receive the message when you do not have the gchat window active on your desktop.
If you click in on the area like you were going to type a message and leave your cursor there, when your friends send messages they don't seem to get sent to the phone. On the other hand, even if you have gchat open on your desktop and you say use a different program or are on a different tab in your browser, then your phone will receive the messages.
At least this is my experience. I think this is the correct behavior as you don't need to get messages in two places when you are actively chatting.

From my experience I use Gchat on my pc everyday when i am at work and I have my phone on my desk near by. When a friend of mine messages me it hits both for the first message, but if i answer on my desktop, it does not hit my phone ever until I sign off of gchat on my pc. Even if it is not focused on the gchat window. I am however using Trillian for my gchat, not sure what you all are using.

DLarva said:
From what I can tell, your phone will receive the message when you do not have the gchat window active on your desktop.
If you click in on the area like you were going to type a message and leave your cursor there, when your friends send messages they don't seem to get sent to the phone. On the other hand, even if you have gchat open on your desktop and you say use a different program or are on a different tab in your browser, then your phone will receive the messages.
At least this is my experience. I think this is the correct behavior as you don't need to get messages in two places when you are actively chatting.
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This is what happens for me as well. Messages go to my phone on the first IM or if I don't have that window active on my desktop.

I am using the built-into-gmail-dot-com google chat. This has definitely happened to me several times before. Last night it happened again. The entire conversation I had with my friend, every time I received a message on my desktop, my phone also beeped. Other times it worked like it was supposed to (beeped the first time and that was it.)
I will see if I can get my wife to help me troubleshoot tonight.

perhaps a topic for a different thread...
I found the chat behavior to be exactly the way DLarva stated:
DLarva said:
From what I can tell, your phone will receive the message when you do not have the gchat window active on your desktop....
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My question (perhaps a dumb one ) is how/where to turn off the notification that you got a chat all together?
I don't want any notification of a chat receipt while I am on the phone.
Any help?

Maybe:
Try (within setting of google talk) turn off notification bar, no vibrate, and set ringtone to silent.
That might approximate no notification.
etaChase said:
I found the chat behavior to be exactly the way DLarva stated:
My question (perhaps a dumb one ) is how/where to turn off the notification that you got a chat all together?
I don't want any notification of a chat receipt while I am on the phone.
Any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

thanks for that - have tried to "approximate" no notification, and that's all well and good. . . but not the same as turning it off.
I have looked around in my mobile settings in the google account but can't find it (thought it might be similar to turning on/off notification of appointments in the calendar)...
might just be missing it, but this seems like fairly simple feature. I am nearing feeling ready to root my phone and thought maybe this would be a feature that was only available after doing that. It would have been the final encouragement I need to take that (admittedly not very big) plunge!

I have a rooted Nexus One (CM6 with KOR) and that is as close as I can get to turning them off (that I can find anyway).

This was happening to me, too (when I used Gtalk on the PC, the phone sitting on my desk would sound the alert, with every chat message I rec'd) -- so I just manually signed out of Gtalk on the phone, and it stopped happening. I mostly use Gtalk on desktop anyway. (Though when I check "running processes" on the Vibrant, I see Gtalk always seems to be running -- must start up automatically -- even though I'm signed out...)

exactly Pevvy -
but signing out of Gmail kinda defeats the purpose of having the phone constantly synched. Guess the same argument could be made as to why you want chats saved/synched... anyhoo - I just don't want chat on my vibrant, period. I don't want them saved (so transcription is turned off in gChat on the desktop) and I would never chat from the phone. OK, never say never, but I would rather have to enable that, rather than always having it running using resources.
When I root that would a fun thing to explore to see if it can be deactivated through some custom start-up (so it doesn't show as a running service - I see the same thing) and only starts if I manually start it.
That said, if it is server side associated with the google account (its a hosted domain and that may further change things...) it may not be able to adjust even with root. Interest how this shows the blending/blurring between the net and the synch to the phone - and should data and synch be more push or pull.

Oh, I didn't sign out of Gmail on my phone -- just Gtalk (the chat service)... seems it was keeping me signed in automatically before, and I had to go into the app, and manually sign out.

New App idea...

Just wondering if some type of text spam utility would be something people would like.
Runs in background, will only accept SMS messages if sender is in the users contacts list or maybe sends it to a "Spam" folder for later review.
Good? Bad? Even possible? LOL
I've heard a few people saying they're tired of getting junk texts.
tia,
Roots

I beleive there may be apps in the market that have similar features as the ones you describe, but its been a while since Ive viewed them.

Yes, you are right, I should check-out the market for similar apps.
I see "willard" in your location...is that Willard, OH? I'm in Akron, OH

I could easily make one using some code from a current app of mine if you're still interested

Captainkrtek said:
I could easily make one using some code from a current app of mine if you're still interested
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LOL. I'm designing apps for sale. So, you can still send your code and I'll cut you for, say, 10%, ok? ROFL LMAO
Oh well, on to the next best idea
Roots

Would be best implemented by segregating the messages, not simply deleting them.
Some messages received from sources not in my contact list are very much not SPAM. Things like bill reminders from provider, download links from GameLoft, new contacts who I ask to just text me their name, etc.

Yes, I still might give this a shot. And maybe not a folder, but toss the messages into a database that could be searchable by date, time etc.
Trying to see this..hmmm...hit "Text Spammer" app. Screen shows "Search by date", "Search by Date/Time", "Show All". Then from there, "Add to Contacts", "Delete", "Main Menu". yeah, that works.
It's hard for me to see, because I'm not a big "texter", but I know some people live and die by their text messages.
Hell, I'm an unemployed programmer, what do I have to lose but some more brain cells and some time! LOL
If anything, I'll learn something new and that's always a good thing.
Going to flowchart this one a bit first to iron-out the design....oh joy

I don't know if this is even possible, but maybe the app could look for key words in the message and determine if they're likely spam or not. I get a lot of spam texts that all look the same and have the some of the same words in them.
Just an idea!

I shall take that into consideration. I'm not even sure I can intercept the message yet.
My schedule has been like Mr. Anderson's (Neo) the past couple of days and I'm just waking up at 10 pm after sleeping like 15 hours. LOL
Guess it's time to start researching and coding.

Well, I'm neck-deep into the process now. This stuff can get confusing for sure. Service starts and stops as I have coded it....just trying to figure out how/where to call other "stuff" from inside the Service.

Well, the Service is user Startable and Stopable.
I have captured an incoming SMS, that is, I'm running 2 emulators with my service on 5556 and the other on 5554 (Note: 5554 is a "regular" phone; my service is NOT on that phone, only the receivers'). 5554 sends text to 5556 and I get my Toast message about it with body and number.
Now the fun starts. As it is, the message goes through default SMS system and puts up the notify and the message is in the 5556 inbox. Now I have to compare phone number to contacts list; if number exists, ok, if not, store message in database and delete from inbox.
Does this sound ok? I'm not 100% warm and fuzzy they still get the notify (that can be bypassed, I think). Then again, let them get the notify, go to inbox, and if it's not there, the user knows to check the spam database.
Or I guess I could Toast a message about "Message sent to Spam Database", then delete it from the inbox.
Or toss-up a dialog box "Message from 339-9831-0076, Cheap Viagra" and have the dialog do a "Keep" or "Delete". That way there is probably no need for a database, but requires user intervention. And what if they're not at phone and have 50 incoming texts...50 dialog boxes??? I don't think so! ROFL
Or just write a whole new SMS messaging system! yeah, right...
I dunno, what do you guys think?

Making some serious progress, but getting tired and I know it's time to step away from the keyboard! LOL
Now I'm at a decision point...someone suggested looking at incoming messages by some keywords. Not sure what they meant.
Someone pointed-out that they get messages for bills due, game forums etc. that they want, but are not in the Contacts list. I'm not sure what to do here.
Say you get your Verizon text on "Bill Available", but I don't match on it and it goes to the database. Is the user going to like that? Probably not. What if I offer to ADD it to the Contacts? Think they'll go for that?
There isn't too much else I can do besides except set it like e-mail spam filters do: it goes to spam folder and you have the option to make it non-spam.
Hopefully I can get some comments on this Like I said, I need a nice long break and after I'm rested-up, I have to code the database stuff. I've done DB work in 2 other programs, so it's not going to be too bad. And I have to mess with the UI...oh joy

Do the "Bill Available" messages always come from the same number? If so, maybe you could add them as a contact, or put those numbers in some sort of whitelist so they don't get filtered.
I was the one mentioning filtering messages by keywords. I don't really know if this is feasible or wise. For a while, I was getting 1-2 messages a day almost identical just from different numbers asking me to sign up for this or that to win money or something. I didn't really think much of them, so I just replied STOP and deleted them. I believe the numbers were 5 or 6 digit numbers.
You might have to just do some market research and see what people are dealing with and what they want and make something fit the general consensus. I'm sure not everyone is going to be happy no matter what you do

I really don't know, for example, if my Verizon Bill Message # is the same as someone else. To complete the app v1.0 phase, I'm just going to send non-contact messages to the database and give option to add to Contacts.
I think I'm going to leave the default notification icon too. For people at their phone, they'll get the notification; by the time they get to it, I'll have marked it as "read" and the icon will go away. It's almost a programming "gift"...once they get used to it, they will know that a notification that comes and goes was a spam and to check database whenever.
(crap, I'll have to copy TO database and delete FROM contacts...damn)...(double damn, I'll have to store the "spam" phone number in user database and check incoming calls as spam from Contacts AND database <might need 2 databases>) see what happens when I get rest?
Once they get their Contacts up-to-date, it should run fine.

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NEVERMIND, but I'm keeping this here for others. Always hated strings in C/C++ classes in college
Changed to if(phoneNbr.compareTo(result[0].....) worked fine. Damn string comparisons!!!
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Ok, I'm either tired or going nuts. Running 2 emulators. One runs my Service, one is vanilla. Sent text from vanilla phone to phone running my Service. Preform lookup on the "Service" phone contacts to see if incoming matches. Obviously it does, because I get a row back from Contacts. But, this statement is NOT working:
if(phoneNbr.toString().trim() == result[0].replaceAll("\\D", "").toString().trim())
Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), "Numbers Match!" ,Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
Here is my logcat of logging the SAME information I'm checking in the above "if". Uh, I'm stumped LOL
Log.v(TAG, phoneNbr.toString().trim());
Log.v(TAG, result[0].replaceAll("\\D", "").toString().trim());
12-31 10:05:01.896: VERBOSE/com.smartappsdev.TextSpamService(953): 15555215556
12-31 10:05:01.906: VERBOSE/com.smartappsdev.TextSpamService(953): 15555215556

sms redundancy

Hello all: I have an HD2 and gotta tell ya all that I simply can't fathom the amount of time and dedication that the developer of sd and nands have devoted to the cause of an improved hd2 enviroment. Thanks to all.
That being said, there are some things that if I weren't as old as I am and had some time and experience in this area, I would have changed. Those are: Sms redundancy. Yes, it's in the front screens (taskbar). that's one. It's in the inbox (ridiculous). It's in the bubbles (or without), but still in that component, and finally it's in regular sms. Please make it all one, please. You don't seem to be able to eliminate any of them.
Forget the request to download an mms. Come on, we've already paid for the service. Virtually every phone in the world has mms capabilities. It's become the world standard. so why even ask to download it and go through the trouble. Are we trying here to save some data charges or what?
Dual contacts apps within the roms is annoying, and unnecessary. Both have to be accessed separately in order to retrieve certain types of info, or add info, such as the way you want the contact filed. There's no provision for additional fields which is a real must for those in business who use the phone as a portable data device and office. If a developer actually gets the urge to do this, then have a translation of the field into an Outlook info data withing the contact instead making it disappear entirely. I can't tell you how many contacts I've lost because of that I know it's not your doing; it's MS. Also make the references to social services with the 'info' section of the contact, hidden. that's dumb. Also make the 'info' clear and immediately available on the opening screen of the contact. (I've come from two year user of the iphone within a T-mobile environment. Apple uses its cerebellum when devising contacts, calendar, alarms, reminders, notes, etc. I simply got away from it because I wanted to enter a true 3g environment and an improved camera).
I don't have the time to continue, but there are so many areas that could be improved on to give us all a really great phone experience. I know you'll say 'Android', but that is lacking in so many areas as well that I can't believe it's gotten the kind of accolades that it has. I could go on about that for an hour.
Anyway, again thnx to all who selflessly (I call it that cuz really the remuniration is minimal) have devoted the time to these roms.

Exchange Services - SmsRelayService HELP!!!!!

Someone please help! Having read the very little amount of content I can find so far, I am extremely concerned that somehow some or all of my text messages are being relayed to an email account via the Service (SmsRelayService) that is running under the app Exchange Services.
I don't seem to be able to find anything conclusive, but what I have found is that it is likely to be relaying text messages to an Exchange Account?
I can stop the Service and it stays 'stopped' until a text message is received and it starts running again.
Now have a Note 4, having upgraded because my last handset appeared to have been tampered with and was also behaving in this manner, as well as my Google Location History recording me in places that I never was. On that handset there were even more questionable apps running, one of which appeared to be some form of spyware when searched in Google!
Is there any way that you can dig deep into the operating system of the device and see what is going on?
Is there any way of identifying is my suspicions and those of others that I have seen post similar stories are correct?
One of the reasons I started to question it initially and then look into it was because I was receiving overly descriptive and some unnecessary text messages from someone and at the same time, another device nearby was demonstrating email notification sounds!
Not only that, but certain things that I had not discussed with certain people, but had discussed over text with others (in no way related or connected) were being brought up!
Help please.... is SmsRelayService under the app Exchange Services something to be worried about?????

I was also shocked by the lack of information on this "SmsRelayService" There are tunz of questions out there about it.
After much research and messing with my phone I feel the service is stock BUT can be hijacked by some unknown application to send all texts to a 3rd party. My x was getting my text messages somehow. In her email account i found she had set up a service on her own phone first to test and she would receive every text on the phone and also location. I assume she set it up on her own phone first to figure it out then she put it on my phone. I have a rooted phone with a custom rom. strangely the SmsRelayService had permission for EVERYTHING on my phone. From sms to photos and every single admin right possible. I doubt this is normal for that service. my custom Rom has a "App ops" menu that shows what the service has used or not. In my case it looks like she was only accessing my sms messages. Killing the service did not help as when a new text came in it started back up and accessed the new messages. Once i removed all the permissions for "SmsRelayService" in the "App ops" menu i no longer had the problem of the service accessing the texts. Without this menu option i don’t know how i would have stopped it. I'd assume there is an app or process killer out there that would have been able to shut it down but it'd take someone else with a normal rom to let us know.
in my case I’m lucky it was only sms's. It looks as though whatever she put on my phone was only getting sms's. the app having access to all rights on the phone a better or more in depth spy app/program could have accessed much more. Only spying my sms activity i did not notice ANY extra battery drain. Also this app is known with Microsoft exchange and that messes up a lot of the research. I have never setup any other account but a gmail account so without a link there i don’t know why else it'd been activated in the first place if not for a spy app. I'll try and post back in a few weeks after i'v been able to see if she suddenly doesn’t have information that she shouldn’t know.