SMS Integration
The rXg offers the ability to require validated contact information for a user prior to registering for service. A user who wishes to subscribe to a usage plan that requires Acccount validation must retrieve a validation code, either by SMS message, or by Email, depending on the configuration of the usage plan.
The rXg also supports password resets after validating that the user has access to the account's mobile number or email address, depending on the configuration of the active Splash Portal.
In order to send SMS messages, the operator must first register for service with a supported provider and configure a record in the SMS Gateways scaffold with a valid phone number or shortcode, and the API credentials required to access the API of the slected provider.
Twilio Configuration
To begin, visit Twilio to register for a trial account. After creating an account, you will be prompted to create a new project. Under the Products heading, select the Programmable SMS option and click continue. Give your project a name.
A trial account may only send messages to its own phone number. Click the Upgradelink in the upper right hand corner of the page. Verify your phone number and provide payment details to fund your account. SMS messaging requires a Twilio phone number, which has a cost of $1 per month, and pricing per message varies by location. See the Twilio Pricing page for more details.
From your Twilio dashboard, click the Programmable SMS icon in the left hand menu, and follow the prompt to get started. Request a Twilio phone number by clicking Get a Number. Record the assigned number to enter into the SMS Gateway record in the rXg. You may manage your Twilio Phone Numbersto add or change phone numbers at a later date.
Visit the Settingspage of your dashboard and obtain the Account SID and Auth Token values (click the Auth Token to view the unobscured value), which act as the API credentials in order to send SMS messages via Twilio's REST API. Be sure to obtain the LIVE API credentials, not the TEST credentials.
Once you have your phone number, Account SID and Auth Token, proceed with configuring the SMS Gateway record in the System::Portals view of the rXg admin console.
SMS Gateways
The SMS Gateways scaffold enables the creation of an SMS Gateway service which will be utilized for verifying a user's mobile number for the purpose of new account signups and/or password resets.
The name field identifies this SMS Gateway in the system.
The provider field specifies which provider this SMS Gateway relates to. Select a supported provider from the list.
The from field specifies the phone number, shortcode, or Alphanumeric Sender ID (not supported in all countries) to be used when sending SMS messages through this gateway. This value must correspond to a number purchased from or ported to the provider.
The Account SID and Auth Token fields specify the API credentials used to access the provider's REST API, and may be obtained from your dashboard within the provider's website.
The Usage Plans selections determine which usage plans are configured to utilize this SMS Gateway. The usage plan must also specify a validation method which includes SMS in order for messages to be sent via SMS.
The Splash Portals selections determine which splash portals are configured to utilize this SMS Gateway for the purposes of performing password resets. Accounts with a valid mobile phone number may request a password reset token via SMS or Email, depending on the password reset method specified in the splash portal.
The note field is a place for the administrator to enter a comment. This field is purely informational and has no bearing on the configuration settings.
Free SMS alternative
As an alternative to SMS integration via a paid third-party SMS Gateway, the rXg also supports a simplified SMS account signup flow which attempts to deliver SMS messages by sending an Email to an Email-to-SMS gateway provided by the end user's cellular carrier. This method does not integrate with Usage Plans, and requires that the user select their cellular carrier from a dropdown list, and not all carriers are supported. Delivery is on a best-effort basis.
To enable the simplified SMS signup flow, simply create an Account Group with the name 'SMS', and an additional login option will be presented in the captive portal, which, upon completion, will place the user into the SMS Account Group with unlimited usage.
