VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Communications (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20)
-- Using SMS in Europe (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=18088)

Using SMS in Europe

I've discussed with a couple of folks using the Visor Phone in Europe. But specifically as to SMS (I use Voicestream in the USA), has anyone been able to send / receive? And preferably from France, if you know?

I'm not sure there should be any difference between normal service and sms, but ......logic without facts is often worthless.

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

I have successfully received SMS messages from France, but let me know if you can figure out how to send one back. Using my Voicestream phone number, a friend in Paris sent me a couple of SMS messages from her cell phone. When I replied, the message said it had been successfully sent but she never received anything. The message was sent to +33607XXXXXX, i.e. her cell phone number.

BTW, each message costs her one franc.

Well, I see one possible issue: you're transmitting from an American sms system to a French one. Maybe they're not compatible for some reason. I wonder if the result is different if it's from your phone to someone in the USA (which is my main concern at the moment).

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

Truth be told, I can't even figure out how to send one outside of Voicestream. Any help out there?

I didn't know that was an issue....

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

I've sucessfully sent and received SMS messages in Europe using Visorphone/Prism combo, but I was dialed into my ISP in the states (Verizon). It did allow data calls through the International Roaming, and I was also able to use AIM, get on the web, and get/send email. I didn't have to do anything special. The person I was sending SMS messages to was on their Sprint phone (web enabled) back here in the States.

Neat fact.... Neuschwanstein (castle in Germany) has a website for etickets. I was able to purchase them on-line and I didn't have to wait 2 hours in line. Pretty cool in my book.

I use the SMS e-mail within the U.S. seems to work across Voicestream to other systems including ATT.

SMS is a service on the GSM networks, and it's standard. Facts: you don't need to dial up to any ISP, unless you want to use a web based or PQA application to interface with a SMSC.

What you need is to have the SMSC number in your Visorphone's SMS application (SMSC is the gateway that routes the SMS messages). You send the reply to your friend in France (destination #) thru a SMSC (SMS Message Center #).

On the Visorphone SMS application tap Options, Preferences, or R.

Enter the SMSC # using international code. For US it would be +1..., here in NZ is +6421600600 (Vodafone SMSC).

Hope this helps!

One more thing: regardless of your location, use the SMSC of your network provider (Cingular, or Vodafone, or BT, or...), because the majority of times the SMS will only accept messages from its own network users.

I use the Vodafone NZ SMSC # even while abroad.

Is that clear?

In Europe now and I was able to receive without problem to my office in limited way---I use Yahoo filters so when someone sends a certain type of email i get it on my phone from yahoo usa:

i received in this manner but got no evidence that anything sent was received.

eMAIL With visorphone was easier. odd though; i just dialed my us voicemail box without entering special country codes--worked automqticqlly but for my isp I had to add 001. NB: do not add extra 1 for long distance if you do not normally

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

You don't have to worry about which code to use for International, Long distance or Local calls, when calling on GSM networks.

Enter + <country code> <area code> <phone> in your phone book.

The GSM network will detect if this is local, long distance or international, and place the proper call.

Example, enter your phonebook phone numbers as +1 215 555 1234 (US), +64 21 555 1234 (NZ), +44 709 555 1234 (UK).

Regardless of where (city or country) you are, the call wil go thru, with the proper code for international calls (011 or 001 or whatever) put in place by the network.

way cool...merci

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

Interesting...when I was in the South of France registered with Itineris, the service worked as you described---if I just added a + before any number then a "1" plus area code and number, the GSM automatically dialed correctly.

When I got to Paris, it selected SFR and I ignored it. With SFR it was not automatic and the numbers dialed into French numbers, not my American ones....!

I switched back to Itineris--everything worked again. No problems.

I don't understand why Itineris would support the feature but not SFR, but that appears to be the case.

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

Now this is interesting... They're not following the standards. If I were living in Paris I'd complain - but a tourist?

Call centre help desk operator thinking "Hmmm, tourist. That's no ok. No action required, He's going away in a week time"...

Ah. You've met French bureaucrats, bien s�r

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

Looking at my bills, btw, it seems that calls in FRANCE to FRANCE (calls, not SMS) were billed at the same rate as calls in FRANCE to USA.

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark Squires
When I got to Paris, it selected SFR and I ignored it. With SFR it was not automatic and the numbers dialed into French numbers, not my American ones....!

I switched back to Itineris--everything worked again. No problems.

---

Please let them know. No one listens to tourists' complaints about the phone system!

Of course, SFR is so unpopular that no one wants to use them anyway.

__________________
Visit the E-Zine on WINE AND ITS Bulletin Board at http://marksquires.com
Available on <a href="http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2733" target="_blank">AvantGo</a>

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark Squires
Please let them know. No one listens to tourists' complaints about the phone system!

Of course, SFR is so unpopular that no one wants to use them anyway.

---

Message delievered.
He told me that it is known that they have some probs with the French network and that they are trying to "help" them to go the right way. But there is a lot of politics in this subject.

So you might expect the same problem when you re-visit France.

CU
Chris