<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset='utf-8'> <title>KalSMS</title> <link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href='styles/site.css' /> </head> <body> <a href="http://github.com/youngj/KalSMS"><img style="position: absolute; top: 0; right: 0; border: 0;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/github/ribbons/forkme_right_darkblue_121621.png" alt="Fork me on GitHub" /></a> <div id="container"> <h1><a href="index.html">KalSMS</a> <span class="small"> SMS/MMS gateway for Android </span> </h1> <div class='menu'> <a href='index.html'>Home</a> · <a href='install.html'>Install</a> · <a href='how.html'>How it Works</a> · <a href='serverapi.html'>API Reference</a> · <a href='comparison.html'>Comparison</a> · <a href='history.html'>History</a> </div> <h2>Comparison to Alternative Methods</h2> <p> SMS gateways can be created using several alternative methods, including hosted services (e.g. Twilio, Tropo, Clickatell), connecting GSM phones/modems to a computer (e.g. FrontlineSMS, RapidSMS, Kannel), and partnering directly with mobile operators. </p> <table class='comparison_table'> <thead> <tr> <td> </td> <th>Benefits</th> <th>Drawbacks</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <th>Hosted services</th> <td> <ul><li>High message throughput <li>Easy to deploy</ul> </td> <td> <ul><li>No local numbers in many countries <li>Usually no MMS support</ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <th>Connecting modem<br /> to computer</th> <td> <ul><li>Can work with inexpensive phone</li></ul> </td> <td> <ul><li>Expensive hardware costs <li>Lots of moving parts to keep working <li>Very difficult for non-technical users to deploy <li>Low message throughput <li>No MMS support</ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <th>Partnering with<br />mobile operators</th> <td> <ul> <li>High message throughput <li>Can provide free service to users via shortcode</ul> </td> <td> <ul><li>Usually very expensive <li>Requires operator approval <li>Long setup time</li></ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> KalSMS is ideal for situations where no hosted services with local numbers are available in a particular country, or when it is necessary to receive MMS messages. </p> <p> KalSMS likely has lower throughput than hosted services or partnering with mobile operators, but should be able to forward up to a few thousand messages per phone per day. </p> <div class="footer"> get the source code on GitHub : <a href="http://github.com/youngj/KalSMS">youngj/KalSMS</a> </div> </div> </body> </html>