PC Cards, are credit card size devices designed to be used with portable computers. These cards generally act like modems, they enable you to make and receive data calls (i.e. to the Internet), send and receive faxes, and send and receive Short Messages. If you have a desktop PC, that does not support PC Cards, and you would like to connect a PC Card to it, you can purchase PC Card docking bays, or modulettes that will enable you to use them.

The PC Cards are usually vendor specific, i.e. if you have a Nokia mobile phone, you must use a Nokia Cellular DataCard (and the right one for your model).  There are also PC cards which are full GSM devices in their own right, such as the Nokia Card Phone 2.0. SMS Gateway also works with these devices.

Mobile phone manufacturers generally offer special serial cables that enable you to connect your mobile telephone to your PC through a normal 9 pin serial (COM) port. These cables are usually supplied by the device manufacturer as an after market option, and sold through larger equipment dealers. Many of these newer handsets now also support PC connectivity via InfraRed and Bluetooth, SMS Gateway is able to use these wireless interfaces as they appear as standard COM ports on the system.

Another type of Mobile Terminal, specifically designed to connect to computers, have now been introduced. These devices are "black boxes" that have easy to use connections for Power, Antenna, and a 9 Pin Serial Cable port suitable for direct connection to a PC "COM" port. These type of devices are well suited to environments where SMS Gateway would be used, as the need to use the terminal as a phone is in this case is not likely to ever be a requirement.

The rest of this page is divided into two main sections, PCMCIA Cards (PC Card) and Serial Cables . With each section then divided into the various manufacturers with devices to offer. 

Please note, this is not a full list of equipment that SMS Gateway supports, just a small selection. SMS Gateway will work with any GSM handset or modem that conforms to the ETSI 07.05 and 03.40 standards, please check you equipments specifications to see if it will work with SMS Gateway.

Example PC CARD INTERFACES:   

Ericsson:

Ericsson produce a range of PC Cards for use with most of their GSM handsets. Click on image for more information.

Compaq:

Compaq "Speedpaq GSM Radio PC Card". Note: this product is discontinued.

Modulettes:

The modulette shown at left converts a PC Card modem into a standard serial connector for use with PC COM ports. Click on image for more information.

Example SERIAL CABLE (or Infrared and Bluetooth) INTERFACES:   

Nokia:

Nokia Cellular Data Suite:

Some Nokia handsets, such as the 6110 and 5110 do not natively not natively support the SMS protocols, so you need to use the Cellular Data Suite (CDS) to translate the proprietary "x/BUS" to the standard ETSI protocols used by SMS Gateway. When you configure SMS Gateway tell it to utilise the Virtual COM port created by the CDS rather than the actual port to which the handset is connected. See also our FAQ for more information on the CDS and SMS Gateway. Click on image for more information on the CDS.

Ericsson:

Falcom:

The Falcom A2, which is based on an OEM GSM module developed by Falcom, is a powerful combination of technologies. The unit is capable of supporting Voice, Fax, Data, SMS, and has built in programmability suitable for developing custom applications. The A2 can also be provisioned with an internal GPS receiver, that can be instructed to report its location at regular intervals via a data call or SMS! We recommend this unit for use with SMS Gateway. Click on image for more information.

Siemens:

Siemens offer a range of "Wireless Modules", designed to cater for a range of mobile and fixed type wireless data applications. Perfect for use with SMS! Click on image for more information.