About UM SMS Service (2003 - 2008)

History Of UMSMS (2003-2008)

UMSMS stands for University of Malaya Short Messaging Service. UMSMS service was first started in 2003. The initial objective of providing the service was to allow students to access information conveniently via mobile phones alternative to those provided by Umisisweb an internet based system. The move to implement the service was to augment the existing internet based service catering for students who do not have access to internet.

Right from the start of its implementation in 2003, UMSMS service connects seamlessly with the relevant internal systems so as to generate the related info of the student. The UM SMS platform used at that point of time was an independent platform initially using 39339 as its SMS service number. Usage of such service is much lower in volume as compared to its internet based counterpart since access to info via SMS is NOT free.

In early 2008, MAMPU initiated the e-KL initiatives. UM and other government agencies becomes part of the e-KL. The key objective of e-KL is to support the Electronic Government initiative. Middle of 2008, UM SMS ‘ s platform was  redirected from the old number to the new e-KL number which is 15888 in support of the e-KL and to leverage on a lower SMS charges guaranteed by e-KL.

The need to use new means of communication in UM besides existing electronic mail and manual fliers and notices increases late in 2009. It started with Faculty of Medicine who requested to use the SMS service to broadcast special messages according to student groups.

Thus, realizing the fact that , it is possible that in future other Faculties or Administrative office might require similar alternative means of communication, PTM’s UM SMS team from Collaborative application division is now in the process of developing an administrative UMSMS portal to cater for the distributed needs. The development is expected to finish by end of 2010.

WHAT IS GSM   GSM stands for Global System for Mobiles. This is a world-wide standard for digital cellular telephony, or as most people know them Digital Mobile Telephones. GSM was created by Europeans, and originally meant “Group Special Mobile”, but this didn’t translate well, so the now common more globally appealing name was adopted. GSM is a published standard by ETSI, and has now enjoys widespread implementation in Europe, Asia and increasingly America.

WHAT IS SMS   SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is the ability to send and receive “Short Messages” to and from GSM handsets, or as they are named by ETSI ‘Mobile Terminals’ (MT). A “Short Message” can contain up to 160 characters in one message, which is quite a lot when you think about it, most messages are simply a call me back, or pick up the parcel from here. The biggest problem with SMS is getting a big screen big enough on the mobile phone to be able to read them easily. SMS is a really nice feature of GSM, being able to give someone a message without actually speaking to them is a great time saver, and results in less misunderstanding; it is kind of like e-mail in your pocket.

CURENT/EXISTING UM SMS APPLICATIONS   Current UM SMS hosts following functions accessible to UM Undergraduate student: 1. UM YURAN / UM BAKI 2. UM JADUAL 3. UM EXAM 4. UM KURSUS 5. UM PENSYARAH 6. UM RESULT   Go to Umisisweb (panduan sms) for the 'How To Access' instructions.

EXISTING UM SMS ARCHITECTURE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING:   1. UM SMS Application Server – located in PTM and managed by PTM 2. SMS Centre – located  in PTM and managed by vendor 3. UM SMS Application server is the server where we put UM’s customized application. a) The server will receive the username and password from a student and query the required result and then send it back to the user via SMS through the SMS gateway. b) UM SMS Centre server is the gateway that passes the result from the application server to the SMS gateway and vice versa. 4. The SMS GATEWAY is a server which is connected to several GSM modem. This is the point where result from UM SMS Centre is sent before it is sent to the GSM networks subscribed by the user. 5. Both UM SMS Centre and the SMS GATEWAY are being managed by the vendor. Therefore, to cater for other SMS application server, extra customization will be required to be done to the server itself. This is beyond the boundary of UM system administrators.                                                      STEPS FOR UM STAFF OR STUDENT WHO ARE INTERESTED IN USING THE EXISTING UM SMS GATEWAY :   There are 2 options to consider: a) Obtain your own GSM Modem (e.g  Wavecom FASTRACK Modem with your own SIM card) b) Use existing UM SMS Gateway.   If you are a UM student who would want to use the SMS as part of your project. It is advisable that you choose option A. If you need consultation on how to set up, you can contact our PTM personnel, Encik Adnan Yahya, at 03-7967 4005.   Otherwise, if you decide to use the existing UM SMS Gateway (option B) then you will need to: 1) write to Pengarah PTM stating your request. (PTM will arrange  discussion and meeting with the vendor who are responsible for the SMS Centre) 2) prepare your own server to host your own SMS Application. 3) prepare your own budget for the usage and extra customization needed to get your sms applications running.