What Is an Email to SMS SMTP Service and Why Use SMPP Instead?

A common query we hear a lot in the mobile marketing sector is: “What’s the optimum way to send SMS messages?”

Well, for seasoned veterans of the industry, the pluses and minuses of SMPP and SMTP are well-known. But, if you’re new to the tech, it might be perplexing. 

Let’s keep it simple: SMPP and SMTP are the only two paths for delivering an SMS message.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) SMS servers allow users to shoot text messages via email. But it was far from perfect. Sending messages could have been faster and more reliable. Moreover, SMTP SMS gateways weren’t built to tackle big volumes of messages, so businesses had to keep looking.

SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) servers offered a much more dependable and proficient solution to SMTP’s shortcomings. Sending messages with SMPP is instantaneous, and the servers can handle an incredible amount of traffic.

SMTPs are still a thing. But how do you know when to hit send with one? No worries. This guide will walk you through the ABCs of email-to-SMTP servers, so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your business or if SMPP might be more suitable.

How Does an SMTP SMS Service Work?

An SMTP Service allows you to send and receive SMS texts from any email-transmitting program. It works like this: your application dispatches an email to the SMS system with the recipient’s phone number and the message itself. After the system confirms your email details, the text and number are swiped, and an SMS is sent off to the receiver.

Typically, the SMTP setup process looks like this:

• Find the email-to-SMS gateway of the receiver’s mobile company. Usually, a quick Google search for the carrier’s name and “email-to-SMS gateway” will do the trick.
• Configure your email client with the right SMTP server and port settings – your email provider should confirm you’ve got the correct setup.
• Craft a new email and stick it in the receiver’s phone number in email-to-SMS gateway format. For instance, [email protected]
• Drop your message into the email body. However, remember that most mail services restrict the number of characters you can cram in one message.
• Forward the email. It will be turned into a text message and sent directly to the recipient’s cell phone.
• Verify the delivery receipt if the carrier provides it.

Take note: SMTP servers are only sometimes suitable for some texting needs. Let’s look at a few use cases to comprehend when and how to apply them.

When is the Ideal Time to Send SMS Messages by Email?

If you need multiple people to send SMS messages but don’t want to keep providing them with your BulkSMS account details, you can simplify the process by using Email to SMS. This way, each person can easily send their SMS messages as emails.

Email to SMS can be helpful if you’re too busy or need more resources to integrate an API but want to send SMS for CRMs, external software, and plugins.

SMTPs are also suitable for those who need a text-based form of communication for their customers but would like to keep up with it through their current email system. Take a doctor’s office, for instance: they can use this to send SMS confirmations to their patients and keep an eye on any replies for filing with a patient’s records if need be.

Daunting Challenges of Employing an SMTP Text Messaging System

Statista reports that 55% of the world’s website visits come from cellular devices – no tablets included. And that’s not all – emails usually follow the same trend.

It’s no surprise some companies still rely on SMTP servers for their messaging needs. The only downside? It’s much more complicated to do it this way. Despite potential applications, SMTP has glaring drawbacks restricting its use in SMS marketing.

Delayed delivery

Sending SMS via SMTP can be tricky – there’s no guarantee it’ll reach its destination immediately. Delivery delays depend on the carrier’s email-to-SMS gateway and any network snags that could crop up.

Compatibility issues

For some service providers or mobile devices, the odds of experiencing compatibility issues and, even worse, failed message deliveries are alarmingly high.

Lack of security

SMTP doesn’t come with any safeguards to stop people from viewing or changing your messages without permission

No confirmation of delivery

No automated process exists with SMTP to confirm a message has been sent to the receiving party’s device – a troubling prospect should you require confirmation that the message has landed in the intended hands.

Limited customizability

SMTP only offers leeway when sprucing up your emails – like changing the sender’s name or the content of the text.

Limited support of special characters and emojis

Some carriers’ email-to-sms portals might not let you use special characters and emojis, sadly curbing your ability to express yourself in messages.

Dependence on email infrastructure

Requiring an email infrastructure for SMS delivery through SMTP may be challenging for some situations and locations.

Some email providers may block it

Some email services may mark SMTP-based text messages as unscrupulous mail, potentially causing them to go undelivered.

Additional costs

When using an SMTP-based SMS service, it is important to know that some providers may require additional fees.

SMPP to the Rescue: Why You Should Use It Instead

For those considering ditching SMTP in favor of SMPP, the most compelling argument is to ensure a seamless customer experience – something that’s synonymous with trustworthy brands. After all, according to Salsify, 46% of shoppers only buy from brands they trust.

Real-time delivery

Using SMPP to send SMS has a myriad of advantages, particularly the fact that messages are sent lightning-quickly. With this tech, you can be sure you’re reaching customers or team members now.

High throughput

SMPP is a prime choice for those needing to manage many SMS messages, making it a popular pick for huge messaging projects or applications.

Customizable messages

SMPP gives you total control over SMS messages, like setting the sender ID, personalizing the text, and more.

Two-way communication

SMPP offers bi-directional communication, providing you with the opportunity to stay in the loop and get messages as well as send them. It also supports binary messages, like pics and ringtones.

Advanced features

SMPP helps you stay on top of your game with its functionalities, like delivery confirmations, prioritized messages, and the ability to smoosh multiple texts into one.

Security

SMPP ensures that your messages are kept safe and secure with encrypted and authenticated features. Plus, its wide usage makes integration with other systems a breeze.

Reduced latency

SMPP cuts out the middleman so that you can send your messages directly to the SMSC, reducing latency way more than other techniques

Cost-effective

SMPP is an economical option for sending out bulk SMS messages. It’s a great choice for those who need to send large messages.

How to Use SMPPs

SMPP demands a devoted link to the SMSC, potentially necessitating further setup and configuration than other SMS transmission methods. Before you zip off a text, ensure you’ve read over your carrier’s regulations and usage rules to ensure compliance. 

Connecting to SMPP could be slightly different depending on what SMS gateway you use, but here’s an overview of how it goes down.

• Obtain an SMPP account from a provider: You will need to find an SMPP provider that offers an SMPP account. This provider usually gives you a username, password, and system ID.
• Create an SMPP client: You will need to create an SMPP client that will be used to connect to the provider’s SMSC. There are several libraries available in different programming languages that can be used to create an SMPP client.
• Establish a connection: Use the credentials provided by the provider to establish a connection to the provider’s SMSC using your SMPP client.
• Bind to the SMSC: Once the connection is established, you need to bind to the SMSC by sending a bind request. This will allow you to start sending and receiving SMS messages.
• Send the SMS message: Use the SMPP client to send the SMS message by sending a submit_sm request to the SMSC. The message will be sent to the phone number specified in the request.
• Close the connection: Once you are done sending SMS messages, you will need to close the connection by sending an unbind request.

How BSG Enables YOU to Set Up an SMPP Connection and Launch Effective Bulk SMS Campaigns

Operators, wholesalers, and businesses that require expedited SMS message delivery and switching between SMS peer entities can partner with BSG to reach these objectives. 

Our SMS gateway offers a flexible data communication interface for the SMS transfer between External Short Messaging Entities (ESMEs), Routing Entities (REs), and SMSC.
With our SMS API, you can initiate transactional and bulk SMS campaigns, monitor the status of sent messages, and automatically retrieve their prices. You can also integrate user data from your CRM or CMS into your BSG account in order to automate segmentation and customize messaging flows.