Integration with vBulletin - Text Messaging (SMS) for vBulletin 4.0

June 2014: I just realized that this thing was still around after getting a random PM about it - I may have some short-term plans to redo this, but for now I'm pulling the files because it's been so long and I have no idea if anything still works. At one point I bought a vB Suite license for 4.1 (at the time, I have no idea where vB is at now) so I'll poke around and see if it'll be practical to update this.

Original description text still below.

Text Messaging for vBulletin does what it implies - adds text messaging functions to your forums! Users can set up their cell phone number and sign up for notifications of a new private message or visitor message received. The forum will send them a text message in close to real time, letting them know about their new message wherever they might be.

Updated 2-15-2010 6:30AM GMT to add support for T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile.

This is being brought back from when I retired it in 2008 from vB 3.7, I think it was. It's been redesigned from scratch to be more reliable, as well as compatible with vB 4.0. It is not yet compatible with vBulletin 3.8 - I'll be working on downgrading it within the next week or so.

This version supports Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Verizion cell phone numbers. It is a light version of a bigger modification - you can learn more about the full version here. Please note that I will only answer question or otherwise discuss the full version modification via my website.

Features:
- Compatible with Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Verizon cell phones
- Allows users to receive text messages when they receive a new PM or visitor message
- PIN verification ensures number ownership and saves forum resources
- Users can be reached by your forum wherever they are, any time of day
- Nearly fully phrased (including the text of the text messages), making translation easy

Live Demo:
A live demo can be found on my Demonstration Forums at this link. Please note that registration is required to set up text messaging, as there's no way to store your user info as a guest, obviously.

Screenshots:
Attached to this post. Also, I thought the picture with my phone turned out cool. And as for the 2016 date, it's an HTC phone plagued by a Windows Mobile date display glitch... haha.

Support:
I will provide support whenever I can - I've been pretty good about it lately. Please click Install before asking for support.

I also appreciate it when you support me by purchasing the full versions of the free products you get a lot of use out of.

[robwoelich]

Originally Posted by simonhind

problem is the mod is free but not the service
its nt very clear on your description of the product
people who download htis would think that what they are recieving is free is free but after the txt messaging is cocts so the mod is not free in the end

The product and the sending of text messages from your forum is free. And with most US cell providers, receiving the texts is also free. If there were any charge whatsoever, it would be assessed to a cell phone owner for receiving a text message if their service plan didn't include free text messaging - and this would be a fee from their cell phone company - but this is noted on the cell phone number setup page, and as mentioned, is normally not the case.

Example 1: your cell phone plan includes free text messaging. You receive texts free (regardless of if the text comes from this modification, or another cell phone).

Example 2: your cell phone plan stipulates you receive texts at $0.05/text. You pay $0.05 for each text you receive (regardless of if the text comes from this modification, or another cell phone).

Does that clarify?

[robwoelich]

Originally Posted by molieman

You've presented a product that is worthless to most of the world community, in essence you are advertising your paid version. Which in my opinion is inappropriate.

There are lot's of hard working coders here, they've put into their mods as much as you have with this product, without cost to us. That's what in my opinion, is what this site is about, correct me if I'm wrong.

I have no problem paying for a product, as I have in the past and will in the future, but this is ridiculous.

I think you have a wonderful product with fantastic opportunity, I suggest you approach this differently.

I've presented a product that is fully functional in itself, for the purposes described in the modification description (sending text message notifications to forum users with specified cell phone companies, on specific forum actions, free of any charge except that which may or may not be assessed by the cell phone provider depending on the user's contract with the company), without any charge to use the modification itself.

This is in complete accordance with vBulletin.org's Paid Modification Rules:

3.Lite versions of commercial modifications are permitted to be released here as long as:
A.It is a working modification
B.It is not time limited in any way
C.It is completely free to the user
D.It is stand alone and completely separate to the full version
E.A single link back to the commercial version is permitted, as long as no pricing or promotional language is used in the link or embedded into the lite version.

If I choose to provide a more advanced modification with full support for a fee, I have that ability. Others choose to put the work into their modifications (which may or may not be more advanced) at no cost. That's their choice. If you don't like that I'm able to charge a fee for my work, or you find the paid version to be too expensive or ridiculous, it is also your choice and ability to not use either the paid modification or the free modification.

The free modification adds real features and functions to a forum. If you don't find that useful, sounds like you've gotten a little too used to receiving all these modifications for free. And with that, I bid you good day and thank you for your interest in my modification.

[wolfyman]

Very cool, and kudos to you for developing something cool enough to get the freeloaders in a small uproar

What is the difference between paid and free?

[Megatr0n]

Rob, when will the 3.8 release be out?

[rickrichards82]

i doubt you will listen to me here but i'll post it anyways.

what you see as criticism is actually valuable customer feedback. lowering your prices might result in more profit in the end.

[wolfyman]

Originally Posted by rickrichards82

i doubt you will listen to me here but i'll post it anyways.

what you see as criticism is actually valuable customer feedback. lowering your prices might result in more profit in the end.

lower prices come when competition comes. If there's no competition, he shouldn't even think about lowering his prices. Capitalism 101.

If you can give him competition, please - do! I like lower prices as well!

[robwoelich]

Originally Posted by wolfyman

What is the difference between paid and free?

The paid version includes more notification types (new blog comment, new photo comment, new group member, new group discussion, new group photo, new user registration, someone on your contact list signed in) and has around 100 companies in several countries.

Originally Posted by Megatr0n

Rob, when will the 3.8 release be out?

As soon as I can get the time to finish it. I'm currently in the pre-process of moving, so my free time has been lower than it has been the last few months. I'd like to have it done within a week or two.

Originally Posted by rickrichards82

i doubt you will listen to me here but i'll post it anyways.

what you see as criticism is actually valuable customer feedback. lowering your prices might result in more profit in the end.

Of course I'll listen. I just dislike irrational whining. Obviously I'm going to lower prices if demand wanes or doesn't exist, or as suggested, if some sort of competition showed up. The initial pricing was not random, but it wasn't supposed to be rock solid and never change either. I will most likely adjust pricing soon, just like I'll continue to add one or two companies to the free version at a time as I verify there are no critical bugs with the product.

Originally Posted by wolfyman

Very cool, and kudos to you for developing something cool enough to get the freeloaders in a small uproar

Agreed... haha. It's kind of funny, everyone freaking out like I'm never going to expand support to more companies for the free version or lower prices on the full version. There is always a method to my seemingly mad... madness? Either way, patience is a virtue.

[meissenation]

I think most of the people here are in an uproar because on your 3.8.x version, support for hundreds of SMS companies was 100% free. Now you roll out vb4.x version and alas there's hefty big subscription prices. I know when I first viewed this thread, I saw the support for only 2 carriers and that I had to pay for what was once included for free and said "No way in hell am I installing that." That said, thankfully my site is 99.999% US so now that you've included more carriers in your free/lite version, I can install and not worry about the subscriptions. Again, what once was offered free in your previous version you're now forcing international customers to people to pay for... that's the uproar.

[TimberFloorAu]

Any free carrier versions for Australia Planned ?

[rickrichards82]

Originally Posted by wolfyman

lower prices come when competition comes. If there's no competition, he shouldn't even think about lowering his prices. Capitalism 101.

If you can give him competition, please - do! I like lower prices as well!

ah, but there is competition. his 3.8.x version is completely free... which has set the price leader bar pretty high. there are a few other alturnatives to paying the subscription costs... but it wouldn't be right to talk about that here.

capitalism isn't about setting prices sky high. if anything that can damage a brands image and in the end hurt your bottom line.