Alpha Feature: SMS Control

[gbh2o]

This is an alpha feature in initial development.

Basically, this allows you to register your cell phone with your account and then send text messages to us to control settings like DND, forwarding, failover, etc. The concept is that if you're out and about and want to forward your calls as an example, one quick text message would take care of it.
.

Why not just use short numeric codes or even the same *nn codes and save the text message cost. It is cheaper to me to spend voice time than SMS time (AT&T) ;( You could have voice confirmation of the requested action.

[burris]

Why not just use short numeric codes or even the same *nn codes and save the text message cost. It is cheaper to me to spend voice time than SMS time (AT&T) ;( You could have voice confirmation of the requested action.

This is a good point especially for the aged cell phone users.

I have texting disabled on mine and my wife's phones, since we were getting mostly spam and paying for the messaging.

Voice would be a great communicator, but I understand that texting seems to be the way of cellular and the way of the world.

[usa2k]

I imagine SMS scales better than a voice line?

* codes on SMS will help those that use it remember one list.

[fisamo]

I agree with the comments regarding the desire for a voice interface to issue these commands remotely. (Shouldn't come as a surprise--I've been vocally requesting that feature for years--not just with voipo.) While this is a good intermediate step for most cell phone users, it does have significant limitations in comparison with a remote voice interface:

1. It can only be used from SMS-capable devices (e.g. not your friend's POTS phone).
2. For most customers, each SMS costs $0.20 or so--I, for one, will not purchase a $5/mo SMS package from my provider, because I don't use 25 msgs/mo yet. When the packages are included in most mobile plan prices, (I'm not holding my breath) it will be more useful.

That said, don't drop the feature. Also, may I suggest a callback bridge feature? command: CALLBACK [NUMBER]. This command will cause voipo to call the registered mobile phone (or specified number) and provide a dialtone to the answering party. The call made by the callback target party is charged against the voipo account. The main selling points of this feature would be the person who has a direct DID at their desk but is not allowed long distance outbound calls, or the mobile phone user who wants to place an international call at a more reasonable rate than that charged by their mobile provider...

[gbh2o]

Why not just use short numeric codes or even the same *nn codes and save the text message cost. It is cheaper to me to spend voice time than SMS time (AT&T) ;( You could have voice confirmation of the requested action.

As a follow-up...
The other SIMPLE option could be to have different call-in numbers for different functions. By that, I mean one number by which to set and/or change failover, another number by which to set and/or change forwarding. That would require a bit of users setting up their phone to have the numbers in their address book to accomplish tasks for which they feel they may have use. DIDs are cheap! And, the system wouldn't even be restricted to cell phones.