Handling Branches Using Auto Responder

For incoming survey, you could use auto responder definite to trigger different surveys. For example, the following figure shows to trigger Agent1 Survey when the incoming text is “001″ and Agent2 Survey when it is “002″.

Handling Branches Using Node Response

Each node can specify its own error handling. Simply select “invalid” answer and then choose its action as follows:

Using exactly the same method, you can define a multi-language text survey app.

To do so, simply go to Setup, PBX, SMS app, select the Add button to add a new auto responder.

In the figure, the “When receiving text message” section basically defines the survey should be triggered whenever there is an incoming text message “survey”. Save the auto responder.

Now, you can select the new auto responder for incoming text. Go to Setup, PBX, SMS app, select the Edit button.

Now, send message “survey” to your text number to start the survey.

Extra Message for error

In the Error Handling Options section, you can specify additional message to send when an error occurs. You can also define the max retry time.

If additional message is specified for error handling, then it is sent before the node is retried.

Node Specified Error Handling

The generic error handling applies to all nodes. This is normally enough for most applications. If you would like to handle errors differently, you can add conditions in the node itself. For example, the following figure shows how to simply exit the survey if an answer is invalid.

• Introduction: thank you for taking our xyz survey.
• Question 1: how would you rate your overall experience? please enter 1 to 5, with 5 being the most satisfactory.
• Question 2: how is our response time? please enter 1 to 5, with 5 being the fastest.
• Question 3: how likely would you recommend us to your friends? please enter 1 to 3, with 3 being most likely.
• End: Thank you for taking the time to finish the survey.

Design The Survey App

1. Enter Introduction

Under the label of Node 1, enter a label like introduction and enter the introduction for the prompt. Leave all numbers under the Answer section unchecked. When no answer is selected, the system sends the message listed in the prompt section, and move on to the next node.



2. Enter Question 1

Click the Add Node button to add a Node 2 section. Enter the information as follows. Select expected answers 1 to 5 in the Answer section. When some answers are selected, the system sends the prompt and then waits for text message response.



3. Finish Up the Survey

Add two more nodes for question 2 and question 3. Then add a thank you node similar to the introduction node.





4. Save the app

Click the Save button at the bottom to save the survey app.

Outbound Text Survey Campaign

To start a campaign using this survey app, select from the main menu Campaigns, click the Text Broadcast button. In step 2, select Simple Survey as the message type. Finish the rest of the steps to start the campaign.

What is required

• A text messaging plan from AT&T
• Voicent BroadcastBySMS software
• An AT&T developer account ($99 per year)

1. Getting a developer account from ATT

For details please see AT&T Developer. You need Premium account in order to use SMS and MMS messaging.

2. Create an IN-APP messaging App

Login to your ATT developer account, create a new In-app application. Once create, you should be able to get your credentials (app key, app secret, and merchant id).

3. Authorize your mobile phone/account

Take a look at Oauth via cURL section. These are the information for authenticate a mobile account to use the newly created app. If you have more than one account, go through this process for each phone. For each phone, you should get a token and a refresh token.

4. Make a ATTSMS.txt file

Create a file named ATTSMS.txt, and enter the following info:

1
app=your_app_name
id=your_app_key
passwd=your_app_secret
account=your_mobile_phone_number_from_previous_step
token=token_from_previous_step
refresh=refresh_token_from_previous_step

Save the file and put it under C:/Program Files (x86)/Voicent/Gateway/bin

Restart your gateway. Now you should be able to use Voicent BroadcastBySMS with that mobile account.

Add more mobile account

To add more mobile phone account, simply repeat step 3 and 4. Please note the first number in ATTSMS.txt file is the number of mobile account. So if you have total of 3 mobile accounts to use, make sure to set it to 3, like the following:

3
[first account info...]
[second account info...]
[third account info...]

Also, you must have multi-line BroadcastBySMS software licenses.

About refresh token

With ATT’s oauth method, you must get a new set of token and refresh token every 3 months. This is a requirement from ATT, not from Voicent software. Getting new tokens (step 3) is a manual process, and there is no way around it.

Every two days you must get a new token using the refresh token. You can manually get a new token using the refresh token and then update the ATTSMS.txt file. To refresh a token can be automated by utilizing Voicentlive’s service. However, this service is only available for approved customers.

If this is all too complicated, we agree. The best solution is simply use Voicent’s hosted service, where you can sign up and start your text message campaign in a few minutes – no setup, effortless.

I want to develop a two way text messaging application for queue management. I have people that queue up for hours to do a certain activity on first come first serve basis. I want to get rid of the queue by having people SMS to the application. The application line them up on the basis the time the SMS was sent and how many people sent before it. The system will reply to the person by giving him or her the time and date he or she can come and do the activity. Thus removing the time spend in the queue which normally take several hours.

Answer:
Voicent BroadcastBySMS and IVR Studio have the capability to manage your text message for queue. This may require programming knowledge on your end. We do offer developer’s subscription to help you develop your own application. For detailed information, please see http://voicent.com/devnet/

Hi. I purchased Zoom modem model 4598. I bought it to work with Voicent BroadcastbyText through my T-Mobile SIM card. I tried it and it is not working, but it works if I use my AT-T SIM card. I thought it was because of the defected SIM card, but I replaced it twice at the T-Mobile store and still gave the same result. Help?

Zoom 4598 modem only supports frequency band of 850, 1900, and 2100MHz, while T-Mobile sends out data through frequency bands of 1700 and 2100 MHz. However, T-Mobile GSM card will still work depending on your location. If the location of your SIM card is near a cell tower that sends out 2100MHz, then you should be fine. But if you’re unlucky, there’s a chance that your T-Mobile card would not work as your location might be sending data through 1700MHz frequency band.

This information also holds true for AT-T 4G LTE technology. 4G LTE sends data through 700, 1700, and 2100MHz frequency band. Although, AT-T’s 2G and 3G GSM cards all well supported by Zoom 4598

Whatever card you have or location you are in, you should purchase a mobile broadband modem that supports the frequency bands that you are using. Hope this helps

I am very interested in this product I have been looking for an affordable solution. I have an online system we had developed this includes a text facility programmed to twilio to speed up things via text. This is not cost effective as we pay per individual text and reply. Will I need to go back to the developers who developed our CRM to programme this product or can I use different developers. Do you have developers we could use for this?

Twilio does offer a cost effective testing and development environment for new programs. But as you noticed, once your site goes live and the text messaging volume goes up, the per-text based pricing can quickly adds up and eats into your bottom line. The good news is that you can simply switch to Voicent software, which can be installed on your own server and save a lot of money by using a text message plan from your mobile company.

The interface between Voicent and Twilio are similar. For example, if your developer uses PHP code to inform Twilio to send a text message, you can replace that line of code, and replace that with a call to Voicent system:

send_sms('650-555-1212', $message, true)

You could also setup response code in your SMS message also. Based on experience of other customers, the switch over does require some changes in the program, but should not be too difficult. All document are published online and we also offer developer support if they need such a service.

To answer your question, yes, you could use other developers to change the code. Find a developer that is familiar with the particular CRM you are using. The Voicent part is probably the easy part.

Also, yes, our service team do work on custom project.

Hello, i want to buy Broadcast By SMS Professional Edition, but i want to ask about GSM MODEM, what it is? I am located in Beirut Lebanon, i have Broadband connection LAN not Dial-UP , so my question is does it work in my country?
About the purchase i will purchase it from California next week but i need to know before if it works in Lebanon and if you can give me info about GSM modem

Hello,

Thank you for your interest in Voicent BroadcastBySMS, we appreciate that you took the initiative to check us out!

Pertaining to your question, BroadcastBySMS does not utilize an internet connection to send text messages; however, it does require a GSM Modem, which is an USB adapter that houses the GSM card that is provided by your cellphone provider. Here at Voicent, we sell the Zoom Model 4598 Modem which you can also purchase on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-4598-Unlocked-USB-Modem/dp/B0089XJG64

Please note for this particular GSM modem, it is only compatible with GSM cards that operate at frequencies of either 850, 1900, or 2100 MHz. You need to talk to your cellphone provider to confirm. And yes, you should be able to send SMS messages wherever in the world as long as your GSM card is compatible, and that a GSM cellphone tower is nearby! You can normally find information about GSM from your cellphone provider.

Currently we are using Voicent Gateway 7.6.5. and we are using it for scheduling calls through web …/ocall/callreqHandler.jsp.

Now, we have an application, which will send reminder as sms/ text messages to some mobile numbers on daily basis and we want to use voicent through web (like we schedule calls through web) for that.

Could you please suggest, how we can achieve that and what are the extra things we will require for that

Actually, the interface is exactly the same for schedule a voice call or send a sms message. The only difference is the an extra parameter named sms, and you need to set it to 1 for text messaging.

You can expect the same behavior for almost everything, including the VXML files and interactive features. Of cause, you cannot use audio files in your apps for SMS message. Also, please note SMS is only available in release 8.