What is SMSC Gateway

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) is a network element in the mobile telephone network. Its purpose is to store, forward, convert and deliver Short Message Service (SMS) messages. 

The tasks of an SMSC can be described as: 

• Reception of text messages (SMS) from wireless network users 

• Storage of text messages 

• Forwarding of text messages 

• Delivery of text messages (SMS) to wireless network users 

• Maintenance of unique time stamps in text messages 

When a user sends a text message (SMS message) to another user, the message gets stored in the SMSC (Short Message Service Center), which delivers it to the destination user when they are available. This is a store and forward option. 

An SMS center (SMSC) is responsible for handling the SMS operations of a wireless network. 

When an SMS message is sent from a mobile phone, it will first reach an SMS center. 

The SMS center then forwards the SMS message towards the destination. The main duty of an SMSC is to route SMS messages and regulate the process. If the recipient is unavailable (for example, when the mobile phone is switched off), the SMSC will store the SMS CAR message. It will forward the SMS message when the recipient is available and the message's expiry period is not exceeded. 

SMSCs can be used to interface with other applications, for example a spreadsheet can interface with the SMSC allowing messages to be sent SMS from an Excel spreadsheet, or to send an SMS from Excel. 

An SMS gateway allows a computer (also known as a Server) to send or receive text messages in the form of Short Message Service (SMS) transmissions between local and/or international telecommunications networks. In most cases, SMS are eventually routed to a mobile phone through a wireless carrier. SMS gateways are commonly used as a method for person-to-person to device-to-person (also known as application-to-person) communications. Many SMS gateways support content and media conversions from email, push, voice, and other formats. 

Several mobile telephone network operators have true fixed-wire SMS services. These are based on extensions to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) SMS standards and allow messaging between any mix of fixed and mobile equipment. These use frequency-shift keying to transfer the message between the terminal and the Short Message Service Center (SMSC). Terminals are usually based on Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), but wired handsets and wired text-only (no voice) devices exist. Messages are received by the terminal recognizing that the Caller ID is that of the SMSC and going off-hook silently to receive the message.