Q: What is Messengex?
A: Messengex is an innovative way for Businesses to send SMS messages
using their computer. It enables a single message to be sent to a large
number of recipients, and at a scheduled time, and thus becomes the most
cost-effective method of mass communication for business purposes.
Q: How does Messengex send messages?
A: Simply connect your computer to a compatible mobile phone, and use
Messengex to send messages right from your desk! Messengex uses the message-sending
features of the phone to send messages.
Q: What are the advantages of sending
messages over the mobile phone?
A: Sending messages through the phone is simple and cost-effective. There
is no complex setup, administration, or subscription. Plus, you have complete
control over your messages. And since the message directly enters the
GSM network from your computer, you have complete privacy over your messages.
Q: Do I need an internet connection
to send messages?
A: No, you do not. All you need is a mobile phone with data cable and
a GSM SIM card which allows you to send messages, connected to a computer
running Messengex.
Q: Can Messengex send messages over
the internet?
A: We currently support sending messages through the phone, since it is
sufficient for most businesses. Based on demand, Internet-based messaging
may be a part of Messengex in the future.
Q: What are the charges for sending
SMS messages?
A: Messengex does not charge you per message sent. But since the message
is being sent though the GSM connection of the phone, regular SMS charges
levied by your operator apply. Please check with your operator if they
have any plans that allow you to send free SMS.
Q: Does Messengex have any limit on
the number of messages it can send?
A: There is no hard limit to the number of messages that Messengex can
send. Messages will be sent through the phone according to the speed of
message sending that your GSM connection supports.
Q: How fast are messages sent?
A: The message-sending speed is dependent on a variety of factors, viz,
the phone being used to send messages, the type of GSM connection (prepaid
vs postpaid), network load, and the performance of your computer. Typical
performance is 1200 to 1500 messages per hour.
Q: Can Messengex send messages to other
countries?
A: Of course! In fact, Messengex stores the country code to which you
commonly send messages, so as to minimise your typing, while allowing
you to select any other country or network per phone number as required.
Q: If I send a message using Messengex,
is it being sent through you?
A: No. The message is being sent by your mobile phone directly onto the
GSM network, to your recipient's mobile phone. Thus you can be assured
total privacy of your communications.
Q: Can I set my messages to be sent
at a particular date & time?
A: Definitely! In fact, Messengex stores even your appointments, and sends
messages in advance of them, so as to remind the related persons of the
appointment.
Q: Is there any limit to the number
of recipients for one message?
A: No. It is limited only by the capabilities of your computer and phone.
Q: What programs can Messengex import
numbers from?
A: Messengex can import phone numbers through two methods:
- The Copy-Paste method: Since copy-paste is the most intuitive method
of data transfer today, Messengex has implemented it in a unique method,
allowing you to import an unlimited number of mobile phone numbers,
in virtually any format, from any Windows-based program.
- The Import File method: Since older DOS based programs do not completely
support copy-paste, Messengex supports importing phone numbers from
text and csv files, which can be generated from those programs.
- From Microsoft Outlook: Messengex can pick contact information on-the-fly
from Microsoft Outlook. Messengex also supports Outlook's categories,
so you can send messages to specific groups that you have defined in
Outlook.
Q: Does Messengex contain
an address-book?
A: Of course. Messengex can not only store the phone numbers, email addresses,
notes and other information about your contacts, and make them easily
searchable, it can even group them using Contacts Groups for you to organize
them better.
Q: What are contact groups?
A: Contact Groups are a method of grouping contacts, so that you can easily
and quickly send a message to all the recipients of one or multiple groups.
Thus groups help you organize your contacts based on various demographics,
or even on the products they deal with you. And since Messengex allows
a contact to be a part of multiple groups, you know that all the required
persons will receive the message you want to send.
Q: Is there any limit to the number
of contact groups I can create?
A: Not really. You can create upto 999 groups & subgroups, which we
feel is sufficient for most purposes.
Q: Can I save the messages that I
send?
A: Messengex automatically saves all the messages you send, for your reference.
You can even print out the messages you have sent, say, between a range
of days.
Q: Can Messengex receive messages
sent to the phone, i.e., replies to my sent messages?
A: Of course. Messengex reads the messages received by the phone and displays
them in Messengex's Inbox section. You can even reply to an incoming SMS
message by simply clicking the
button.
Q: Does Messengex support Status
Reports (receipts) ?
A: Yes! Messengex not only receives status reports, it even correlates
them to your Sent Messages, so you can find which recipients have still
not received their messages.
Q: What is credit tracking?
A: Credit Tracking is a feature unique to Messengex, by which Messengex
estimates the amount of credit remaining on your prepaid GSM connection.
Thus, you will always know how much credit is remaining on the connection,
and even be warned when credit falls short.
Q: If there is a network or phone
problem, will Messengex try to send messages again?
A: Yes. Messengex will retry any message that it has been unable to send,
while at the same time putting it on a lower priority compared to message
that have not yet been sent.
Q: How many pre-defined message templates
can I create?
A: You can create a virtually unlimited number of message templates that
you can use while composing your messages. And of course, you can edit
the content before actually sending your message!
Q: Does Messengex password-protect
my messages?
A: Only the Business Edition features password-protected logins to keep
your messages from prying eyes and ensure your privacy. You can even delegate
the message-sending functionality to authorised persons, so that only
they will be able to see your messages.
Q: Can I breakdown my messaging
bill to find out how much each user has used?
A: Yes. The Business Edition features reports on messaging usage, both
on behalf of users, and by the actual users or secretaries who have sent
those messages.
Q: Can I allow my secretary to also
send messages?
A: Messengex Business Edition contains Delegation features unique to it,
which allows you to delegate your message-sending to your secretary or
colleague. Once you have delegated to them, they will be able to setup
appointments, send messages, and manage your contacts on your behalf.
Of course, you are also able to revoke the delegation at any time.
Q: What exactly is Database Connectivity?
A: Messengex Database Connectivity is a module of Messengex that enables
Messengex to connect to a database, to extract information, for automated
message-sending. It is commonly used for tasks like sending automatic
payment reminders, transaction information, or virtually any information
present in your database that your customers may be interested in.
Q: Which are the databases that Database
Connectivity can connect to?
A: The Database Connectivity module can connect to most databases, ranging
from Oracle, Sql Server, to Microsoft Access and even DBase. Most databases
require the use of an ODBC connection driver, usually provided alongwith
the database client software.
Q: Can Database Connectivity connect
to a database running on a non-Windows operating system like Unix or Solaris?
A: Most of them. All major database vendors provide ODBC drivers for Windows,
which is sufficient for connectivity, irrespective of the OS hosting the
database.
Q: Can Database Connectivity create
custom messages, say, with the recipient's name in it?
A: Definitely! In fact, a lot more information, like payment due amounts,
expiry dates, and virtually any other information from the database can
be embedded into the message. The Database Connectivity automatically
merges your provided message template with the received information, to
create a custom message, with string-level processing if required.
Q: Does using the Database Connectivity
mean that I have to alter the structure of my database, or add new tables?
A: No! The Database Connectivity's flexible "T/sb" architecture
allows it to be configured to use any stucture present. In fact, it can
even connect to multiple databases and correlate information to generate
a message!
Q: I do not have a Mobile Number field
in my database, and I cannot add one. How can I use the Database Connectivity?
A: The Database Connectivity's flexible architecture allows you to refer
to a separate table or separate database for mobile numbers or any other
information. So if you are unable to modify your Oracle database, instead
create an MSAccess database containing mobile numbers and a correlating
field, and setup the Database Connectivity module to correlate between
both databases.
Q: Can Database Connectivity update
the status of records in my database?
A: Yes. Database Connectivity can update the status of any specified field
when the message is generated, and again update it when the Status Report
for that message is received.
Q: Can Database Connectivity automatically
reply to messages sent by my customers or staff?
A: Yes. Database Connectivity can be setup to respond to messages based
on callerid or message content, thus enabling advanced applications. For
example, your staff can quickly determine the stock of a particular item
by sending a message containing the part number over sms to Messengex
installed in your office, and the Database Connectivity will respond with
the amount in the database!
Q: What is the Messengex Professional
Edition?
A: The Messengex Professional Edition is the single-user edition of Messengex,
i.e., it can be installed only on one computer. While there are no limits
in the message-sending features, the Professional Edition does not include
the network and collaborative features of Messengex found in the Business
Edition.
Q: What additional features does the
Business Edition have?
A: The Business Edition incorporates all the features of the Professional
Edition, plus network support, where all the users on the network can
share a single mobile phone, thus cutting down the mobile rentals per
head. The Business Edition also features Delegation, where you can grant
the right to send messages on your behalf to any other user. For a comparative
list of features, click here.
Q: What additional features does
the Premium Business Edition have over Business Edition?
A: The Messengex Premium Business Edition includes all the features of
the Messengex Business Edition, plus Database Connectivity, Open API,
and the Command-line interface. For a comparative list of features, click
here.
Q: Is there any limit to the number
of clients Messengex can support?
A: There is no technical limit to the number of clients supported by Messengex.
But it is preferable that certain network performance issues be evaluated
by us before deployment, so we recommend that you contact us on any of
the email addresses provided.
Q: Can I use any mobile phone
with Messengex?
A: Messengex requires a mobile phone having an internal modem. For your
convenience, we have tested Messengex on quite some mobile phones, and
we recommend that you use one of those models, listed on our Phone
Compatibility Page . If you would like
us to try any particular brand, please let us know.
Q: Is any phone having an internal
modem sufficient for Messengex?
A: No. The actual details of what the mobile phone requires are too complex
to be discussed here. For example, there are some mobile phones that can
send messages only over IR, which we do not recommend, and so are not
present on our list of compatible phones.
So it is recommended that only mobile phones on the compatibility list
be used.
Q: Can Messengex be used over
IR?
A: Messengex can in fact be used over IR, but we discourage its usage,
due to the unreliable nature of IR connections generally found. We recommend
using a data cable, through the COM or USB port, for proper connectivity.
Q: Can I connect more than one
phone to the Messengex Server?
A: Currently Messengex supports only a single mobile phone. A future release
of Messengex Business Edition and higher will include multiple phone support.
Please note that the Professional Edition will not support multiple phones.
Q: Do you think Messengex can
be used over the GSM network in my region?
A: Yes, provided you can send messages from your phone handset. Since
Messengex utilises the phone to send messages, it is compatible with virtually
any GSM network in the world.
Q: Can I use a prepaid connection
for sending messages?
A: Yes, provided your operator allows you to send messages using your
phone handset over a prepaid connection.
Q: Does Messengex require a
Data Connection on the phone?
A: No. Messengex does not require a data connection, because it does not
actually utilise any of the data features of the GSM network. Note that
having a Data Connection does not interfere in message sending in any
way.
Q: Does Messengex require GPRS?
A: Messengex does not require GPRS to function, but it may be able to
send more messages per minute provided your
phone, connection and network support SMS over GPRS. Please contact your
GSM network operator for more details.
Q: Does Messengex require EMS/MMS?
A: No. Since EMS and MMS are yet to find popularity among most users,
they are not supported by Messengex. Messengex sends SMS messages, which
can be received by virtually any mobile phone. Messengex thus does not
require EMS/MMS to be present on the mobile phone, though an EMS/MMS capable
phone can be used with Messengex to send SMS messages.
Q: What operating systems does Messengex
support?
A: Messengex supports all PC editions of Windows, which are Windows 95,
Windows 98,Windows ME, Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, Windows
2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server,
Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition.
Support for Linux is expected in a future release, based on demand. Please
contact us regarding availability.
Q: Does the Business Edition require
a Server OS like Windows NT Server or Windows 2000 Server?
A: No. Messengex's connections to the server are totally TCP/IP, which
is not restricted to any number of users, unlike the 10-user restriction
on the file-sharing SMB protocol on Workstation OSs. Messengex also internally
uses the open-source Firebird Database, which provides much higher performance
than file-based database systems. Thus, Messengex can be successfully
installed and used as a server even on a Windows NT Workstation, Windows
2000 Professional, or Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Edition. Note
that Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows ME can also be used as a Messengex
server OS, but it is not recommended.
Q: Does the Business Edition require
a Windows NT Domain or Windows 2000 Active Directory?
A: No, Messengex does not interact in any way with these authentication
protocols. In fact, it is even possible to connect to the Messengex Server
even if you are not authenticated onto that server.
Q: Our network runs on a Novell Netware/Unix/Linux
Server. Can I use Messengex?
A: The Messengex Server software does not need to be installed on your
Server. The Messengex Server software can be installed on any Windows
Client computer, for use as a server.
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