Bulk SMS cost for a crowdsourcing project

111 views
Skip to first unread message

nivedita kashyap

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 7:33:17 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
Hello everyone!

Does anyone here have experience with crowdsourcing data via SMS? We're trying to collect some data about Solid Waste Management in Bangalore through citizen volunteers sending data via SMS. So I wanted to know the cost of getting service providers (Airtel/Vodafone etc.) to set up a number specifically for this project which will roughly see about 100 SMSes per week.

Any help is appreciated, do feel free to get in touch with me at vak...@gmail.com

Best,
Nivedita

Nagarajan M

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 7:34:50 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com

Whether you want to send or receive sms.

--
For more details about this list
http://datameet.org/discussions/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "datameet" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to datameet+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

Febin John James

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 8:00:26 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
well have a look at txtweb.com 


--
For more details about this list
http://datameet.org/discussions/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "datameet" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to datameet+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 



--
Regards,

Febin John James

MSP 
Microsoft


Sutirtha Roy

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 8:16:44 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
FrontLine SMS could be another option: 
http://www.frontlinesms.com/
-s.


Sutirtha Roy,
Full Economic Citizenship | Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
+91.9480826560


Manish Malik

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 8:28:34 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
You can use any of the numerous SMS Services Providers to buy a "Longcode" number (a 10-digit number people can send SMS to). Can cost between Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/- per month (and quite less than that of that if bought for longer duration). These services can send the data to your web server when an SMS is received, among other things.

Check SMSLane (http://longcode.smslane.com/) or mVaayoo (http://www.mvaayoo.com) -- I have used them both as a customer.

Best,
Manish



On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 5:03 PM, nivedita kashyap <vak...@gmail.com> wrote:

--

Vinkesh Banka

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 8:50:49 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
You can use an Android  phone as a SMS gateway, to receive SMS almost free of cost.

Please take a look at http://smssync.ushahidi.com/index

Regards~

Venkatraman S

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 9:37:34 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 6:20 PM, Vinkesh Banka <vinkes...@gmail.com> wrote:
You can use an Android  phone as a SMS gateway, to receive SMS almost free of cost.

Please take a look at http://smssync.ushahidi.com/index


This looks nice. I hope this does not annul the ToS of Airtel/Vodofone.

Also, is there something similar to 'send' SMS(preferably with a Python API or supporting REST) from a webserver, that is.

Venkat 

Johnson Chetty

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 9:52:32 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
Hi, 
RapidSMS and Kannel are both Python based.
We use RapidSMS for chalobest.in (under development) for the SMS based response.

We've done something from the ground up.
We've hooked up a modem (with a SIM card) to our web server and a RapidSMS instance
uses the modem for SMS.

Cheers

Venkat 

--
For more details about this list
http://datameet.org/discussions/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "datameet" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to datameet+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 



--
Regards,
Johnson Chetty




Kailash Thakur

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 8:32:34 AM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
You could check out rapidsms as well which is python based. 

Thejesh GN

unread,
Apr 15, 2013, 1:14:05 PM4/15/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 6:20 PM, Vinkesh Banka <vinkes...@gmail.com> wrote:
You can use an Android  phone as a SMS gateway, to receive SMS almost free of cost.

Please take a look at http://smssync.ushahidi.com/index

Regards~

Thanks a lot. Its super cool. and really really hackable. Now my friends can send me "QUOTE" and I reply with a quote. Only some friends :)

Deepa Gupta

unread,
Apr 16, 2013, 6:03:48 AM4/16/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
If you want to be able to receive and send large amounts of calls and SMSes (i.e. in the lakhs) in very short periods of time (like a few hours) then you will need to use a provider like exotel or zipdial, otherwise the rest of the options are good..
Deepa Gupta
Founding Director

M:  +91-8884-106-654

Sabarish, KSITM

unread,
Apr 16, 2013, 6:35:32 AM4/16/13
to Baas MP., Iven MS, data...@googlegroups.com

Dear All,
 I am copying this mail to Mr Baas and Iven of Travancore Analytics, a company who has done a project of Similar kind getting feedback from Kerala Electricity Board Consumers, may be they can help you.

Regards

Sabarish.K
+91 9447811556


Rahul Gonsalves

unread,
Apr 16, 2013, 7:59:42 AM4/16/13
to data...@googlegroups.com, Vijay Sharma
+Vijay Sharma (Exotel)

Rahul Gonsalves

unread,
Apr 16, 2013, 8:08:12 AM4/16/13
to Vijay Sharma, data...@googlegroups.com, vak...@gmail.com, Sales
+datameet.

On 16-Apr-2013, at 5:36 PM, Vijay Sharma <vi...@exotel.in> wrote:

> Thanks Rahul,
>
> Hi Nivedita,
>
> You can not only use SMS but voice and Ivr too to collect the data.
> http://exotel.in/case-studies/ngo-non-profits-use-technology/amnesty-india-mobilizes-1-3-million-people-with-exotel-for-justice-for-srilanka/
>
> http://exotel.in/blog/survey-market-research-data-collection-tools-for-india-online-offline/
>
> Check these 2 posts out that will give you a better example. I'll ask my team to follow up and help you further. Also just goto www.exotel.in and create a free trial account where you will get 50rs. To test out SMS and voice based data collection methods. Once you create a free trial account am sure someone from the team will help you out.
>
> Thanks
> Vijay
>
> Sent on the go.

nivedita kashyap

unread,
May 21, 2013, 2:15:49 AM5/21/13
to data...@googlegroups.com
Thank you very much for all your messages! We were able to zero-in on a provider because of the info you provided. Appreciate your help a lot.

Best,
Nivedita
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages