A simple, no-fuss solution that will deliver SMS as fast as your provider’s gateway network allows, then consider Email to SMS.
The review found that WholesaleSMS has key strengths in gateway network, a cheap pricing policy and a reliable support service.
A good Email to SMS gateway will ensure that from an cost as well as a time factor, you will be stress free when you decide that your important text message needs assurance that it will be delivered effectively from your personal computer to whoever requires to see the SMS without the need for changes to an existing CRM system. Just by logging into your website or using a prepared lists you can ensure everyone will receive the information. It should be a simple process like opening an existing email and sending the required text message as you would do for a standard email.
This email to SMS service simplicity this process a perfect fit for companies or organisations who are requiring to use text message service for appointments, payment reminders, notifications with items such as parcel pick up, or for marketing and communication campaigns.
Most Email to SMS gateway providers provide user-replies where customers or staff are able to respond to an original SMS message sent as an immediate two-way communication system which can be invaluable for the rotating of employees or reminding people of appointment dates.
So, if your business want to depend on using SMS messaging as a means of communicating to customers, clients, stakeholders or employees in a fast and reliable manner, then a premium direct gateway carrier needs to be engaged. This way text messages are delivered directly through major UK telecommunication carrier services. SMS are routed through the mobile phone network system. They are usually more expensive than Hybrid gateways that may use overseas gateway providers. However this means that the bulk SMS provider will be able to use your email to SMS system to transmit more promptly and with greater reliability the message you need people to read and react.
Bulk SMS is an effective way of sending large number of text messages within a short allocated time and ensuring that a message or a marketing campaign reaches everyone that you want to receive it. SMS is personal and goes straight to the recipient’s mobile phone so the message is delivered direct in a compatible form that can be read straight away. By sending through the Email to SMS Gateway provider, it becomes real-time two way SMS communication and not only will they reach a customer whenever they are but it will allow you to receive replies to your bulk messages, whether it is to individuals or to groups. Email to SMS gateway UK providers will assure businesses that bulk SMS can be stored to use at a later stage or can be forwarded and easily tracked using their delivery reports. This way, you can see which messages were delivered and to which specific mobile numbers. Using Bulk SMS does not require any special software to be downloaded or installed.
By comparing a number of features offered by different SMS gateway service providers as see on SMS Comparison Table it can be seen that two SMS providers stand out with a very sound range of features that they offer. They are SMS Broadcast and ClickSend, who both have well organised and structured gateway networks that will supports a wealth of solutions in offering an Email to SMS service. This includes well established browser based message platforms such as Outlook Mobile Service, Online SMS and SMS Gateway UK. These bulk companies have the capacity to disseminate vast numbers of SMS in one shot at one time whether is in the thousands or tens of thousands, providing any client with the know how and confidence that distribution will be done within a very short specified period of time. It means that you can choose your replies to be managed by these gateway providers for inbound system, or be directed to your email, or directly to a designated mobile phone.
When Email to SMS Gateway UK providers talks about API what they referring to is their Application Program Interface, which is a set of sophisticated tools for building software applications. What an API does is that it specifies the way software components will interact with the server. It is an interface with either the web server or a web browser and usually is limited to a web application client-side. Therefor the Email to SMS is a form of technology that is able to change the standard type of email format into a SMS i.e. text message. For clients who want to use the Email to SMS Gateway process it is just a matter of customizing the email in a way to be able to send the text message directly to those that are nominated to receive the information. The API allows for the email to be converted into a SMS compatible format message. This means that the client can send to individual numbers or can format its database of numbers for distribution in mass. Emails to SMS Gateway UK companies will show you how you send personalized emails through platforms such as Gmail, Outlook or AOL. You can also send from external CRM systems, internal software programs and third-party software.
By comparing the most dominant players in the email to SMS gateway scenario, both SMS Broadcast and ClickSend are on par with each other in the features they offer clients, both ranking 97 out of 100, which is highly commended position. This is closely followed by Clickatell with a score of 89 for the range of good features they can provide clients. SMS Tech is very close behind with a rating of 86 out of a 100 thereby showing that they too offer a very good range of features. The other two providers listed in the comparison graph do provide good features with high 70’s out of a 100 for their features. This information can be simply seen and interpreted on the graph presented below.
If you intending to send large volumes and on a regular basis through an Email to SMS Gateway UK provider, it is logical to research providers who will offer you text credits at wholesale prices. You need to ensure that you are provided with the best possible service and best gateway carrier that is actually delivered to you. Obviously, for wholesale text message charges platforms have been built with large businesses and corporations who can distribute thousands of text messages on a monthly basis at a reasonable price that companies are prepared to pay for the service. There is a range of telecommunication routing options and services available for companies to review and consider that will make the costing lower. Low cost routing platforms are available that can deliver wholesale SMS with reliable SMS transmission speeds. Be aware that the carriers may be hybrids which mean that the gateway carriers may not be local and may not provide the uptime guarantee that local UK telecommunication carriers offer.
The review of Email to SMS Gateway UK providers found that service charges ranged significantly dependent on the distribution volume on a monthly basis. WholesaleSMS was overall the cheapest provider offering a low rate for the distribution of text messages on mass ranging from small to large volumes. This is followed by SMS Broadcast and Clickatell which are around 10 to 15% more expensive. Both Click Send and SMS Tech charges are around 30 to 40% dearer than the cheapest email to SMS Gateway provider. It is recommended that you seek further clarification on the pricing schedule of each SMS gateway provider as prices can change without notice.
SMS Broadcast and ClickSend offers unlimited credit validity unlike a number of other gateway providers, and offer no monthly fee and their virtual number cost is lower than their competitors in this category. All SMS providers do mention that they offer optimum solutions at a cost-effective price, tailored to meet your requirement. They, as well as you, should actively monitor the prices of the SMS markets.
When comparing to the 5 major UK bulk SMS competitors, as shown in the graphical representation below, WholesaleSMS was around 35% to 40% cheaper than the highest cost published by SMSTech. In terms of cost value, SMS Broadcast came second with a rating of 86 out of a 100 with its prices being around 10% higher than WholesaleSMS but still most cost effective than the other Gateway providers. Clickatell, Click Send and SMS Tech had a rating of 78, 69 and 58 out of 100 respectively. Text It which was not included into the Email to SMS Price Comparison Table above.
Referring to the Email to Text Message Gateway UK Comparison Table, it is noted that SMS Broadcast and ClickSend deliver a very reliable Email to SMS gateway solution to organisations who put a huge priority on communicating fast and effectively to their clients, customers and staff at any time. Both these providers use modern, updated gateway technology supported by strong technical skills in this area. Of course, as an British based company, it offers customer service support on an ongoing and timely basis. A number of large British organisations use these gateways such SMS Broadcast , Clickatell and ClickSend.
The review showed, as indicated in the comparison table, SMS Broadcast and ClickSend offer 100% Uptime guarantee which is very reassuring and significant. The other providers do also provide a range of service level agreements. The issue with SMS Broadcast is that it lacks specific detail on its uptime guarantee reliability which makes it different from some of the other SMS providers which offer 99% or more uptime with a Service Level Agreement guarantee. Uptime guarantees are attractive when used in a marketing pitch, but even the best guarantee won’t stop your site going offline.
Based on the graphical representation of reliability ratings reviewed, it can be observed that both SMS Broadcast and ClickSend achieved full rating of a 100 as a measure on the reliability scale. This was followed relatively closely by Clickatell and Text It with a rating score of 87 and 89 out of a 100 respectively. Both Wholesale SMS and SMS Tech did not rate well at all, particularly SMS Tech.
However it needs to be pointed out that the other text message gateway providers do have support centres so they do offer a prompt level of reliability in case you need to contact them.
Both Clickatell and SMS Broadcast has earned a sound reputation in the SMS messaging industry in sending and receiving SMS text messages from PC’s and web browsers. Customer care, quality of service and results are important to these text message providers and they consistently strive to achieve a high level of satisfaction.
On the rating scale, Clickatell is regarded as possessing the best reputation, closely followed by SMS Broadcast and ClickSend. The other three competitors have a rating range from 81 to 62 on a reputation scale.
The Email to SMS UK Comparison Table has been formulated with you,the reader, in mind. The authors, who have worked with a number of leading Email to SMS Gateway providers over a number of years but no longer work in this field, have prepared a series of key selection criteria that will be easy to understand and will provide a fair and unbiased review of the services and features offered by leading SMS providers.
The information provided on the SMS Comparison Table and this associated site has been derived from the authors viewing SMS providers websites. Therefore, the detailed information provided is as a guide as prices and features may be updated without warning. If any of the information on the table appears to be out of date or incorrect, please contact the authors so that changes will be made quickly.
The Comparison Table is provided for free to assist you however a commission may be asked from the provider’s site if you click through their website and engage their services. There are no forms of advertising on this site and the authors have made price and other key features the selection elements that have led to the recommendations made on the site.
This page was last updated on 27 November 2019