This article is about sending SMS using PHP through MySQL Server.
It is intended for web developers with a basic knowledge of the
PHP and SQL technologies. The page contains a downloadable source code
(see above), a list of aims you can achieve using the code, a list of
prerequisites, a description and depiction of the architecture and operation
of the system, step-by-step instructions about how to use the code and a
detailed interpretation. It also includes a brief summary, answers to
frequently asked questions, as well as links to related information.
When to use this code
This code is particularly useful for those who wish to
add SMS functionality to a website.
add SMS functionality to a corporate Intranet.
create automated SMS notifications.
increase website security by adding SMS login.
Prerequisites
The following table gives you a checklist on what you need
to add SMS functionality to your MySQL enabled PHP website.
PHP host:
Operating system: Linux or Windows
Webserver (Apache, or IIS)
PHP
MySQL Server
SMS Gateway host:
Operating system: Windows or Linux
.NET framework (if you use Windows) or Mono (if you use Linux)
Ozeki NG-SMS gateway
To send SMS messages from PHP applications,
you need to install Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway and Microsoft SQL Server on your computer. Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway
will use a
GSM phone/modem attached to your PC
(with a phone-to-PC data cable) or an
IP SMS connection
to send messages. Your PHP application will insert a row into the database
to send messages using the Ozeki NG program. For a better understanding of how
it works, please look at the following diagram (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Sending SMS from PHP SMS API through a MySQL database server
In the diagram you can see an Internet user, a web server
with the PHP application, an SQL Server, Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway, a mobile phone
attached to the server computer and a mobile user receiving the message.
Wherever the Internet user is, if they know the IP address or URL
of the computer running the PHP script, and if they are authorized to log in,
they can compose and send messages to any recipients.
After the Internet user's action, the PHP application inserts
a row with the data of the SMS to be sent, which will be selected by
Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway from the database. Ozeki NG will forward the message to
the GSM network through a mobile phone attached to the PC with a data cable, and
the mobile user will receive the SMS message.
Step 1: Open Ozeki NG's graphical user interface (Start menu -> All Programs ->
OzekiNG -> Manage OzekiNG). Picture help
Step 2: Create the database user in Ozeki NG with the necessary data following
the instructions.
Using the code
To use the downloaded PHP code, follow these steps:
Step 1:
Unpack the downloaded zip file.
Step 2:
Copy the sqlsmshandling.php, sqlsmshandling_inoutmessages.php and sqlsmshandling_functions.php
files into the main directory of the Web Server.
Step 3:
Set/Change the fixed data in the sqlsmshandling_functions.php file (e.g., server name, user name, password).
Picture help
Step 4:
Start the Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway Server (if not running).
Picture help
Step 5:
Start a web browser application (IE, Firefox, etc.) and enter this: http://127.0.0.1/sqlsmshandling.php
(127.0.0.1 means that the copied example files reside on the same computer
on which the browser has been opened).
Picture help
Step 6:
Fill in the necessary fields, and then click the "Send" button.
Picture help
Step 7:
Verify the message has been sent by Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway.
Picture help
Understanding the code
The downloadable sample script inserts the message to be sent into the
ozekimessageout database table. Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway periodically checks the
table, and if it finds a row where the status is send, then it will try to
send it. Inside the script you have to set the server name to where the MySQL
Server is running, the username (specifying who can log in to the MySQL Server)
with the password and the type of the SMS message.
The source code of the example application is structured in the following way:
sqlsmshandling.php:
This file contains page builder asp elements (text boxes, labels, etc.)
and calls an insert function.
sqlsmshandling_functions.php:
connectToDatabase(): connects to the MySQL Server and
opens the database.
closeConnection (): closes the connection.
insertMessage (...): inserts the message to the outgoing
database table.
showOutgoingMessagesInTable(): selects the messages from
ozekimessageout database table and
shows it.
showIncomingMessagesInTable(): selects the messages from
ozekimessagein database table and
shows it.
sqlsmshandling_inoutmessages.php:
builds the page that shows the message tables.
Description of the process depicted in Figure 1 above:
Step 1:Create the HTML
form
In the sqlsmshandling.php file, you create the form that requests the sms
data and shows a frame for tables incoming
and outgoing messages. The Internet user fills in the necessaries.
Label and textbox pairs will be displayed. Labels identify the requested data
for the Internet user, and they will type it in textboxes. The user will be
asked to fill in the Recipient and Message text fields.
sqlsmshandling.php
...
...
Inside the last table row (<tr>) you perform the sending of the message,
as well as the notification of the Internet user in case of an error.
...
<?php
if (isset($_POST["textAreaRecipient"]) && $_POST["textAreaRecipient"] == "")
{
echo "Recipient field mustn't be empty!";
}
else if (isset($_POST["textAreaRecipient"]) && $_POST["textAreaRecipient"] != "")
{
try
{
connectToDatabase();
if (insertMessage ($_POST["textAreaRecipient"], "SMS:TEXT", $_POST["textAreaMessage"]))
{
echo "Insert was successful!";
}
closeConnection ();
}
catch (Exception $exc)
{
echo "Error: " . $exc->getMessage();
}
}
?>
...
Step 2:Processing data
coming from the HTML form After filling in the fields and clicking the Send button, the Web server
receives the information about the form.
At the beginning of the php script, check the data of the textbox fields. The
Recipient box is mandatory.
If it is empty, the processing will be aborted, and the Internet user will be
informed about the error. If the checking is successful, you will insert a
new row into the ozekimessageout database table (in insertMessage (...)).
You need the following: the address of the computer running the MySQL Server
[the default address is localhost
(localhost means that the MyQL Server is installed on the same
computer on which the PHP script is running)], the username (who is authorized
to log in to the MySQL Server and to insert messages, the user's password,
the message type (the default is SMS:TEXT), the recipient and the message data.
Step 3:Checking the incoming and
the outgoing message tables
By refreshing the table of incoming and outgoing messages, you can check the
incoming messages and the status of outgoing messages. Look at the
showOutgoingMessagesInTable() function. You will refill the outgoing
messages table.
In the article it has been explained how you can add SMS functionality to
your website by using the downloadable PHP example code. You can freely use
and modify that script. Using PHP scripts (and the Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway
Server) you can create a lot of useful services(e.g.: you can add SMS
functionality to a website or a corporate Intranet, create automated SMS
notifications, increase website security
by adding SMS login, etc.).
Frequently asked questions
Question: How can I send different message types?
Answer: For example, a Wap push message (in the insertMessage(...) function):
The action can be one of the following: signal-high, signal-medium,
signal-low, signal-none, signal-delete.
Question: Can I run the PHP script on a
computer different from the one running the Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway Server
and the MySQL Server?
Answer: Yes, you can. In the script you have to set the Server name
of the computer running the MySQL Server.
Question: Can I set the phone number so that
the recipient can see where the sms comes from?
Answer: Yes, you can. In the script you have to set the sender
field too. It works
only if you have IP SMS connection.
