Product Description
Retarus SMS Services allow SMS messages to be sent and received without the need to maintain expensive SMS infrastructure. Business and web applications such as CRM, ERP, and legacy systems, as well as desktop applications, can be connected to Retarus SMS Services. Data processing is carried out in Retarus data centers.
The various Retarus SMS Services and interfaces can be configured according to the service. For example, SMS sender identification, transmission priority, cost center, or status updates can be defined as default settings for all SMS jobs or individually set for each transmission request.
System Architecture
Products
SMS Cloud Gateway
Email-to-SMS
Provides the ability to send SMS messages from email clients by standard email (SMTP) to any mobile number. Send outbound SMS messages from any email client by composing a new email and addressing it to the recipient's mobile phone numbers such as 16145556677@eu.rsms.net. Retarus converts the emails to SMS messages and transmits them to receiving mobile numbers. The sender receives transmission status notification emails. Additionally, personalized SMS messages can be delivered to many recipients using transmission lists.
SMS-to-Email
Provides the ability to receive incoming SMS messages directly via standard email (SMTP), delivering to any email address. Retarus converts SMS messages to emails. Recipients of the text messages can be assigned either statically or dynamically. For static assignment, SMS messages are sent to pre-stored email addresses.
For dynamic assignment, SMS messages are sent to the Email-to-SMS user who last sent an SMS to the source number and is valid for seven days.
SMS APIs
SMS-for-Applications
Provides the ability to send SMS messages from an organization’s existing business or web applications via the Retarus system. Customer applications connect to Retarus by using REST, SOAP, or HTTP interfaces using HTTPS. Retarus creates the SMS messages and delivers them to the receiving mobile numbers. The transmission status can be sent automatically via HTTPS Push, or the client can query the text message transmission status anytime via the respective interface.
SMS Apps
WebExpress
Provides the ability to send broadcast SMS messages from the WebExpress portal.
Connectors and Add-Ins
Prebuilt Connectors & Add-Ins
SMS Connector for Salesforce
Allows outbound SMS messages to be sent directly from Salesforce Sales and Service Cloud via the Retarus system. The Salesforce Sales and Service Cloud connector is available via AppExchange.
SMS Connector for SAP
Allows outbound SMS messages to be sent directly from SAP via the Retarus system using Email-to-Fax. The standard SAP interface SAPconnect (BC-SMTP interface) is used as the connection for sending SMS and confirming transmission status in the SAP system. The option also exists to encrypt the BC-SMTP connection using Enforced TLS and/or VPN.
Short Message Peer-to-Peer Protocol (SMPP) Connector
Utilizing the SMPP connector allows SMS messages to be sent and received via the Retarus system. Retarus delivers inbound SMS messages to the client’s business or web applications using HTTPS protocol.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) Connector
Allows for sending and receiving rich text communication via the RCS connector.
Business Features
Message Functions
Coding / Encoding
The SMS coding supported by Retarus is GSM-7 (Standard) and UCS-2 (part of UTF-16). Inbound SMS transmission orders are automatically coded in the preferred character set. The preferred coding is defined in the account settings or within the transmission order. Utilizing GSM-7 coding also provides the ability to define how text should be handled when characters are used that are not supported by GSM-7. The options for addressing the unsupported characters include the following methods: Smart Replacement, Simple Replacement, Switch to UCS-2 coding, and Rejection (only with SMS for REST or SOAP applications).
Delivery Notification
Allows for the delivery of SMS transmission status feedback from the Retarus system to the client via HTTPS push or email.
Message Splitting and Limits
Provides the ability to send and receive longer text messages. Text messages with more than 160 characters for GSM-7 coding and more than 70 characters for UCS-2 coding must be split up and sent as multiple, linked SMS message fragments. Customers can set a maximum number of permitted message fragments. Each text message fragment is counted as a full SMS message and reflected in the client’s invoice as a full SMS message.
Sender ID
Provides the ability to customize the Sender ID displayed to the recipient on an SMS message. Numeric and alphanumeric characters can be used for the custom Sender IDs. A default Sender ID can be set on the customer’s SMS account or can be changed on a per-job basis. There are country-specific and network-specific limitations for Sender IDs that must be considered and applied as required.
Deliverability Functions
Allow List
Provides the ability for clients to create a customizable list of countries where SMS messages can be sent.
Blackout Periods
Provides the ability to configure times in which no SMS messages are delivered. SMS messages will be scheduled to be sent at the end of the blackout period.
Express Delivery
Allows for SMS message transmission priority management. An SMS message can be assigned a priority of high or normal. Express text message transmission requests are processed as a priority in the Retarus system. The transmission priority can be set as default for all SMS jobs or individually set for each SMS transmission request.
Flash SMS
Provides the ability for SMS messages to be displayed/flashed on the recipient’s phone screen when received and does not need to be called up first via the view message function.
Message Validity
Provides the ability to shorten the validity period of message delivery, down to the minute, from 5 to 2880 minutes.
SMS Blacklist
Provides the ability to apply a blacklist to outbound SMS jobs to prevent text messages from being sent to recipients that have opted out. Numbers can be added to the blacklist manually in the EAS portal or programmatically by receiving a text reply with the keyword ‘STOP’.
Two-way SMS
Utilizing a Long Code or Short Code as a Sender ID allows Retarus to support seamless two-way, SMS communication. Retarus requests and provides the Long Codes and Short Codes on behalf of the customer and following the applicable national legal and regulatory requirements. Two-way SMS text messaging is permitted in most countries. If text messages are sent with alphanumeric sender recognition, the required short or long code can be integrated into the message.
Reporting and Monitoring
Enterprise Administration Portal (EAS)
A web-based platform that provides one, all-purpose, user-friendly web portal 1) to monitor inbound and outbound SMS messages in real-time, 2) to view, print, and download SMS message reporting for the past 3 months, 3) to add, delete and update users, 4) to configure account settings and 5) to open support tickets and monitor their status.
Report Archive
Provides the ability to archive monthly SMS message reports from the last six 6 months. These monthly reports can be automatically sent to a stored email address. The reports for the previous calendar month can be retrieved at the start of the following month.
Reporting API
Provides the ability for customers to run queries anytime to request SMS message transmission status and SMS metadata for their SMS message traffic. The Retarus Reporting API gives customers the freedom to query their SMS message job data at will and around-the-clock, to integrate into customer reports, dashboards, and analytics tools.
User Administration Attributes
Configuration API
Provides the ability to programmatically manage account administration such as Moves, Adds, and Changes (MACs) automatically via the API.
Cost Center Management
Provides the ability to create and manage cost centers.
Directory Synchronization (DirSync)
An interface that allows the customer to automatically update Email-to-SMS and SMS-to-Email user data in the Retarus system based on their company address books or directories. Automatic provisioning of Email-to-SMS and SMS-to-Email accounts is made possible via synchronization with customers' Active Directory.
Domain Level Sending
Allows all users registered under the @domain email address to send SMS messages using Email-to-SMS without the need for creating a separate SMS account for each sender.
Single Sign On (SSO)
Provides the ability for users to log in to the Retarus EAS portal using their company’s existing Single Sign-On credentials. SSO allows customers to access the EAS platform using their current authentication credentials, including those managed through LDAP directories
SMS Inbound Numbers
Retarus provisions the numbers required for SMS reception. Receipt numbers may be necessary for transmission to fulfill regulatory requirements. Long Codes (SMS long-dial numbers) and Short Codes (SMS short-dial numbers) are provided by Retarus on behalf of the customer receiving SMS messages. These numbers can be set up specifically for the customer, shared via prefix, or dynamically. If a number is shared dynamically, inbound messages are automatically sent to the company that last contacted the recipient.
Network and Connectivity Integrations
Authentication
Provides the ability to configure the authentication methods used for connectivity and varying stages of the SMS process. Some examples of authentication methods to be used include OAuth, Mutual TLS, SPF/DKIM, and License Keys.
Enforced TLS Connection
Allows for the encryption of the email connection between the customer and the Retarus SMS Cloud Gateway, for Email-to-SMS and SMS-to-Email. Enforced TLS can be set up for each recipient domain for emails delivered by SMTP to the customer for Email-to-SMS and SMS-to-Email.
High Availability Redundancy
Provides the ability to connect to additional Retarus data centers to increase service availability, provide redundancy, and implement load balancing.
VPN Connection
Allows for encryption of the connection between the customer and the Retarus data centers via Virtual Private Network (VPN).
SMS Long Codes
SMS long-dial numbers for receiving SMS messages are provided by Retarus on behalf of the customer following the applicable national legal and regulatory requirements. Receiving SMS messages and seamless two-way communications requires a receipt number (Long Code or Short Code). The receipt number is provided via a dedicated, shared, or vanity code.
SMS Short Codes
SMS short-dial numbers for receiving SMS messages are provided by Retarus on behalf of the customer following the applicable national legal and regulatory requirements. Receiving SMS messages and seamless two-way communications requires a receipt number (Long Code or Short Code). The receipt number is provided via a dedicated, shared, or vanity code.
Workflow Integration
Batch Sending
Provides the ability to send SMS jobs in timed batches rather than to all recipients at the same time. Allows the deployment of high-volume SMS jobs in configurable batches.
Duplicate Check
Provides the ability to check SMS jobs for duplicates before transmission.
Keyword Based Routing
Allows for the automatic routing of incoming SMS messages based on keywords. When a matching keyword is identified, the respective allocated actions are carried out, as in the case of adding a mobile number to the Blacklist when an SMS message is received with the word ‘STOP’. If no keywords are identified, the default actions are carried out.
Email-to-SMS Reply Matching
Ensures that all inbound SMS replies are accurately matched and delivered to the person who initiated the contact. This capability enables smooth and efficient one-to-one conversations between users and SMS, even in complex scenarios such as call center operations, when a call center agent sends an Email-to-SMS message to a client that requires a reply.
Automated SMS Reply
Enables automatic replies to inbound SMS messages, such as confirming an unsubscribe request. Replies can be personalized using customer-specific message templates for each service.
SMS to Stop
Provides the ability to automatically transfer mobile numbers from ‘STOP’ text messages into customer-specific stop lists, triggering the unsubscribe process. Numbers on the stop list are excluded from future SMS messages sent by the Retarus system. Stop lists are maintained and updated in the EAS administration portal.
SMS to List
Provides the ability for mobile numbers of inbound SMS senders to be automatically added to a list. The list can be sent daily to a user-defined email address. The EAS portal allows the customer to set the list name, email address, list size, and transmission time.
Send Out Time
Allows outbound SMS messages to be transmitted in timed batches rather than to all recipients simultaneously.