11. How to Receive SMS Messages Using a Computer / PC?
In general, there are three ways to receive SMS messages using your computer / PC:
1.
Connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer / PC. Then use the computer / PC and AT commands to get the received SMS messages from the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem.
2.
Get access to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier. Any SMS messages received will be forwarded to your computer / PC using a protocol / interface supported by the SMSC or SMS gateway.
3.
Get access to the SMS gateway of an SMS service provider. Any SMS messages received will be forwarded to your computer / PC using a protocol / interface supported by the SMS gateway.
If you do not want to develop SMS software or applications but just want to use your computer / PC to receive text messages, you may want to read our Quick Guide for Non-Developers.
11.1. The 1st Way: Using a Computer to Receive SMS Messages through a Mobile Phone or GSM/GPRS Modem
Receiving SMS messages through a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem has a major advantage over the other two ways -- wireless carriers usually do not charge any fees for receiving incoming SMS messages with their SIM cards. The disadvantage of receiving SMS messages this way is that a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem cannot handle a large amount of SMS traffic. One way to overcome this is to load balance the SMS traffic with a pool of mobile phones or GSM/GPRS modems. Each mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem will have its own SIM card and mobile phone number.
In terms of programming, sending and receiving SMS messages through a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem are similar. What you need to do is to send instructions (in the form of AT commands) to the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem.
The following table lists the AT commands that are related to the receiving and reading of SMS messages:
AT command
Meaning
+CNMI
New message indications
+CMGL
List messages
+CMGR
Read messages
+CNMA
New message acknowledgement
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