ActiveXperts SMS and PAGER Toolkit 4.0 Release Notes

INTRODUCTION

SMS and PAGER Toolkit 4.0 is the newest version of ActiveXperts' SMS development component.
The mission of the product is to provide an easy to use interface to Windows developers for sending and receiving SMS messages.
The product runs on the Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 operating systems, and can be used by various development tools, including Visual Basic .NET, Visual C# .NET, Visual Basic, Visual C++, ASP .NET, ASP, PHP, VBScript and Java/JavaScript.
THe product has support for SMPP, GSM modems, SMSC dial-in providers and legacy pagers.

WHAT'S NEW IN SMS and PAGER TOOLKIT 4.0

- Object structure -

In previous versions of SMS and PAGER Toolkit, there was one object (SMSC) for sending and receiving SMS messages. In the new release of the toolkit, this functionality is split-up into separate objects:
  - GsmIn and GsmOut objects for sending/receiving messages through a GSM modem;
  - DialUp object for sending SMS messages through an SMSC dial-up provider;
  - Pager object for sending Pager messages;
There's a new object to support SMPP:
- SMPP object for sending/receiving SMS messages using an SMPP compliant SMSC provider (new)

As a result, applications using an earlier version of the toolkit must be modified in order to support this new release of the SMS and PAGER Toolkit.

- GsmOut object -

In previous versions, sending messages using a GSM modem was implemented by the SMSC object. It is now implemented by a new object called GsmOut;
You can now enter PIN code by the use of the new 'EnterPIN' function;
Support for messages longer than 160 character, for a variety of message formats, including: multi-part data, multi-part text and multi-part Unicode;
Support for immediate display messages (Unicode and Text);
Support for 8 bit data is now included;
Ability to query the status of a message, to verify delivery (also known as status reports);
Operator's retry period can be indicated by the use of the new 'ValidityPeriod' property;
User Data Header indication;
Support for user-defined PDU's.

- GsmIn object -

In previous versions, receiving messages using a GSM modem was implemented by the SMSC object. It is now implemented through a new object called GsmIn;
You can now enter PIN code by the use of the new 'EnterPIN' function;
Support for different storage locations, including 'SIM' and 'Memory';
Support for 8 bit data is now included.

- SMPP -

The product now supports the SMPP ('Short Message Peer to Peer') protocol; This allows an application to communicate with Short Message Service Centers (SMSC's) to perform one-way and two-way messaging between the application and SMS capable mobile devices.
Support for a so called 'Validity Period', which means that you can indicate how long a message should be retried by the operator before it will fail;
'Validity Period' support, which means that you can indicate how long a message should be retried by the operator before it will fail;
Ability to query the status of a message, to verify delivery (also known as status reports);
Ability to cancel a message;
Advanced message formats, including Text, Data, UDH, Unicode;
Multi-part messages, to allow messages longer than 160 characters;
Link timer support in both directions;

- Dial-Up SMSC providers -

Dial-mode selection is now possible. In previous version of SMS and PAGER Toolkit, only 'tone' was supported ('pulse' was not supported). Now, there's a new property called 'DialMode'. You can set this property to 'tone' or 'pulse'.

- Pager -

Dial-mode selection is now possible. In previous version of SMS and PAGER Toolkit, only 'tone' was supported ('pulse' was not supported). Now, there's a new property called 'DialMode'. You can set this property to 'tone' or 'pulse'.

INSTALLATION AND UPGRADE

- Installation -

To learn more about installing the product for the first time, please read our manual. You can download the manual at http://www.activexperts.com/files/xmstoolkit/manual.htm

- Upgrade -

Upgrading from a previous version should be done in the following way:

Uninstall the 'ActiveXperts SMS and PAGER Toolkit' software. Use the 'Add/Remove Programs' applet in the Control Panel to start the Uninstall;

Re-install the 'ActiveXperts SMS and PAGER Toolkit' by using the standard Installshield installation program (ASMSTOOL.EXE).