Free Texts: Includes virtually free texts from mobiles Discussion

georgeASDA

Vyke does seem like a quality application.. shame I'm on o2 and it doesn't work.. ta for the smsbug link tho, that's pretty nifty, just not as polished as the Vyke solution. definately gonna save me money though..

judosteffer

HAs anyone on the three network used MSN messenger on their phone? Its free to download and use- I tried it today and its superb on my K800i - they allow you a fair usage policy of 5000 instant messages a month which should be enough for anyone. If you have a three phone I'd recommend trying it. Totally free too, unlike Vyke.

datimms

peterbaker wrote: »

Hi datimms
In case readers get the wrong idea, it is worth saying that (if your handset allows the connection) you can use Vyke Pro for free to send texts to anyone. They have no idea you are using Vyke Pro AFAIK - your texts arrive at the other end with your CLID same as they would via normal channels.

Thats pretty good, i didnt realise that! in the FAQ it says if another user is not connected to Vyke Pro you will be charged 2c. Pretty good going though, means I dont have to top up my free credit!

If the sms centre number is in denmark, does it charge you for an international text? I understand that if Vyke cant connect when you send a message, it relies on SMS to work?

Thanks!

peterbaker

Don't quote me datimms but I think that FAQ 2 cents charge applies to Vyke Lite not Vyke Pro. Put it this way - I upgraded from Vyke Lite to Vyke Pro perhaps 3 or 4 months ago. I use it daily to send numerous texts from UK>abroad and my Vyke balance has remained doggedly on GBP7.62 for all that time!

Don't be too distracted by what I said about the Denmark SMS number. No you will not be charged (not unless the cartel dreams up a dastardly way of hunting you down and doing so!). I only mentioned it to tie in with the idea that some countries still generally don't tolerate cartels and other rip offs (like DK) as opposed to paying lip service (like UK)!

For example, when Martin goes global like eBay, he won't bother about setting up moneysavingexpert.dk as a consumer revenge site because they don't (yet) have much of a problem, in the same way that eBay hasn't set up ebay.dk because eBay's wild west view of the world is not tolerated there! (If you see what I mean!)

Anyway back to SMS gateways and all that - the technology is hard to explain, but if you were a technical boffin receiving one of my texts, you would be able to unravel the hidden "message header" (a bit like you can do with emails) to discover the routing of the received text. Having done so, you would most probably note that my text had been processed through the DK SMSC that you can find in the Vyke Pro settings. That doesn't mean your handset has contacted that SMSC directly over the mobile network - it hasn't. But when you fire up Vyke and send an SMS from it, it goes via the internet first and arrives at an internet SMS gateway server and out via the DK SMSC (if I understand it correctly).

Now the interesting thing is that the cartel can monitor Vyke's use in much the same way, not when you send a text using Vyke, but when Tom !!!!!! or Harry replies to it. Most handsets have a default SMSC setting which says something like "Reply via same SMSC?" which means that when someone sends you a text and you reply, your reply is sent directly to their SMSC instead of your mobile company's default SMSC (again ... that's if I understand it correctly!).

So the cartel companies will all be monitoring use of that Vyke DK SMSC based on Reply traffic very carefully I imagine! You can probably spoil their analysis somewhat by telling all your non-Vyke using friends to switch off that "Reply via same SMSC" setting in their handsets to "No"

PS No I havent seen Vyke using SMS directly from the handset when it "can't connect" I am sure it doesn't. I think what you read there was about the VoIP part of the application where you can set up calls using SMS, or on the earlier Lite product which majored on some kind of peer-to-peer messaging lke you described earlier (and like Tex2) when both parties have the application on their handsets. In that case I think, if one Vyke customer sends to another who is offline, then the message will be delivered via the SMSC and on the restricted Vyke product then that will no doubt cost 2 cents off your Vyke balance (but is free on Vyke Pro).

datimms

Thanks pete! (rbaker :beer: )

The problem with Vyke is their help available to read on the site is very limited. So it's good there's someone like you who knows what they are on about! I think that company needs to be more open about their data usage for a start and then explain a bit better. I could understand if they were new, but since uv said uv been using them a while then I think its poor information.

I was very interested to first read about Vyke, because before I came across it, I was thinking of developing an app for my phone's web browser which allowed me (and my girlfriend in the US) to log in to my call1899 account and send a text using their system, direct from our phones via GPRS (they allow 1p texts to any number). At present the "send" button executes a complex series of javascript commands which the handsets don't recognise. My girlfriends phone won't even accept the security certificate to log in. I was hoping to counter this by creating a solution which "wraps" around the call1899 interface so that all processing is done by the server and not by the handset, this would minimise data usage .

Martins article came along at just the right moment so I didnt waste my time learning javascript. However, since it appears several UK network's users seem to be hindered from using Vyke, there may still a use for this kind of system. I'm shortly off to the US for 7 weeks with not a lot to do so with a bit of luck I might come up with a solution!

Would there be an interest in this if I was to spend time doing it?

peterbaker

datimms wrote: »

..would there be an interest in this if I was to spend time doing it?

Are you saying you might be able to decipher some of the protocols and build an app? I think that is what you are saying. If so, power to your elbow, but before you go reinventing any wheels suggest you hunt around on the smsbug.com site as they have published a lot of open source code which might help you.

Former_MSE_Archna

Vyke is going to create a temporary solution for Vodafone users that should be available on its site by Wednesday.

As a result of the temporary solution it means anyone using Vyke with this temp solution will get free texts to non-Vyke users (currently its free between Vyke customers or 1p/text to a non vyke user) until they can sort a permanent solution.

As far as Vyke know all other networks should work.

datimms

In a way, yes. I don't know javascript so it's hard for me to comment without looking into it further, but I have already found a way to log straight into the call1899 user interface (using my login details) without using their internet site at all. From first impressions, the text messages are sent entirely using javascript. But I could be wrong.

I envisage just having a webpage with no graphics, jus a log-in form, which you save to your favourites or bookmarks in your mobile. This logs you into call1899 remotely via my "wrapper" and subsequently allows you to send sms messages up to 160 characters long. If i could get this working, I see no reason why I couldn't alter the code to allow more than 160 but send it as two messages etc. This is all very much theoretical at the moment though so don't hold your breath! I'd have to look into it whn I have more time.

I will check out smsbug as well later on, if they have code already written then that would certainly help!

redux

datimms wrote: »

Thanks pete! (rbaker :beer: )


... I was thinking of developing an app for my phone's web browser which allowed me (and my girlfriend in the US) to log in to my call1899 account and send a text using their system, direct from our phones via GPRS (they allow 1p texts to any number).

...

Would there be an interest in this if I was to spend time doing it?

I wouldn't spend time on it, as equivalent possibilities are already available, or at least don't spend time on certificates or so on.

Voipbuster has a very similar Java application to the Vyke lite version, though not for all Java versions, and an offer at the moment texts means messages sent in this way are actually free for several countries. Sent from the PC client software, there are 1 cent (+ vat) messages for Voipbuster, Voipcheap, Voipdiscount, and perhaps some of their other brands

For other Betamax brands, messages can be sent via wap/grps as a url with account details and message embedded. It would be tedious editing the message part every time, so this is what you might look at.

But I don't know if this will extend to the Call18185, 1899 brands, as these use an account number rather than the VoIP username.

Overall though, 2 US cents from Vyke is no more expensive than the penny you're talking about paying 1899, and needs no effort to compile the software. 1.2 eurocents is a bit cheaper at the moment, but may not last at this price ...

Disco_Des

MSE_Archna wrote: »

As far as Vyke know all other networks should work.

That is great for the Vodaphone subscribers :beer: , but looking at the (admittedly) anecdotal evidence here it would seem that other providers are blocking Vyke too.

Can anyone use Vyke with the a 3G phone (not via wi-fi) to send messages?? :question: Please tell us.

Conversely do ANY of the providers openly admit that they block Vyke? :question: