FAQ: What Do You Need to Get SMPP Enabled?

What do you need to implement SMPP as a messaging solution? It’s a frequently asked question, and one we’ll answer here…

SMPP, or Short Message Peer-to-Peer, is a protocol designed specifically for the transmission of high volume SMS text messages. It is used by Short Message Service Centres, more commonly known as SMSCs, and by bulk SMS message providers.

So what do you need for reliable, high-volume SMPP messaging?

1. You need a permanent internet connection.

SMPP is a session-based protocol; a connection is established to a SMS gateway and kept open for as long as possible. Many bulk SMS providers will monitor this connection for up time – if a connection drops too much within a certain amount of time, the source of the disconnect will be investigated to ensure that there are no security compromises taking place.

2. You need a static IP address.

As is indicated by the name, SMPP is a peer-to-peer protocol. To facilitate the direct connection and, again, for added security, a static IP address is required. Most normal ADSL connections available from ISPs renew their IP addresses on a periodic basis, which make them unsuitable for an SMPP connection.

3. Ensure that you are using the correct version of SMPP.

Currently the most recent SMPP version is 5.0. The most widely employed versions are 3.3 and 3.4, with the main difference being that v3.3 requires a separate virtual connection for the sending and receiving of message data, while v3.4 support the BIND_TRANSCEIVER parameter (meaning that only one virtual connection is needed to both send and receive). It is recommended that you use the version your bulk SMS messaging provider uses for optimal consistency.

4. A paid email address.

In the interest of security, most bulk SMS providers with reasonable security in place will require a non-free or business email address from the entity registering for the SMPP connection. After all, since SMPP uses an internet connection for the transmission of text messages, security counts a lot!

And that, in a nutshell, is what you’ll need to be eligible for an SMPP connection. In some instances providers will require businesses to undergo a compliance test to ensure that all the above requirements are in place.

For more information about this protocol or to get your hands on some technical documentation, go to the SMPP page.

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Tags: messaging requirements, protocol version, Short Message Peer-to-Peer, SMPP, SMPP FAQ