How To Use The SMS FeatureUpdated 2 months ago
Hello!
Are you ready to text your awesome photos? OK!
There are 3 different ways to text your photos: by using your Cloud account, by using Twilio service, or by Email via carrier method.
Cloud Method
In this method, you will use your Cloud account to send the texts and each text cost will be deducted from the credits.
1. Open your Cloud account, go to the Events tab, and select your desired event
2. In the event, go to the Gallery tab and enable Gallery Access
3. Click on the SMS tab and Enable the SMS
Once enabled you will be able to select an SMS template ready with a message from the drop-down list or select the "Custom" template and write your own message.
Here are also able to see the status of the texts and export a CSV list.
Twilio Method
This method can be used in the Cloud or the FMBooth software.
In the Cloud:
1. Purchase a Twilio virtual number via https://www.twilio.com
2. Open your Cloud account, go to the Events tab, and select your desired event
3. In the event, go to the Gallery tab and enable Gallery Access
4. Click on the SMS tab, Enable the SMS, and edit the template.
5. Click on your user and go to the Settings tab and under SMS Method select "Twilio Account" and enter your Twilio details. The cost for each text will be deducted from your Twilio account.
In the FMBooth Software:
1. Purchase a Twilio virtual number via https://www.twilio.com
2. In the Settings tab > SMS > under Type select "Twilio" and insert the data you received from Twilio
Country prefix: Set your international calling code.
From Number: Enter the full phone number you’ve purchased from Twilio (including + and international calling codes).
Account SID: Enter your Twilio Account SID.
Auth Token: Enter your Twilio Authentication token.
SMS Service PHP: Enter the URL of your PHP server, if you don't have one you can use FotoMaster’s (provided in the preset pack).
Email Service PHP: Enter the URL of your PHP server, if you don't have one you can use FotoMaster’s (provided in the preset pack)
3. In your Workflow, add an SMS Feature State (make sure to place it after the "Save Final Photo" Feature state):
Click on the settings icon in the SMS feature state to define:
Text Message: A short text that will accompany the photo
Email via Carrier Method
Allows you to send SMS via Email integration (by supporting carriers).**
Sharing photos via MMS using carrier selection is a free alternative to using a paid Twilio account. Note the following information about the free carrier-based option to make a suitable and well-founded choice before an event.
Carrier selection typically results in 3% of undelivered messages due to participants choosing the wrong carrier. The speed of message delivery is not guaranteed to be instant, typically resulting in 6% of messages that have been delayed for a few minutes or up to 48 hours. The size limit for attachment files varies between carriers, typically resulting in 2% undelivered messages due to file size. Most importantly, with it being a free service offered by carriers, its general availability is not guaranteed and can result in undelivered messages when a service of a major carrier is not working properly.
Another cost-effective option you can consider is to start an event with the free carrier-based option active and a paid Twilio account standing by as a backup. You can then make sure participants receive their photos and instantly switch to the paid option with the first sign of undelivered MMS.
In addition to these existing options for sharing photos via MMS, we are currently working on new sharing features which we are excited to share with you soon.*
* The above data is based on Foto Master's internal statistics and may vary.
1. In the Settings tab > SMS > in Type, select "Email via Carrier"
2. In your Workflow, add an SMS Feature State (make sure to place it after the "Save Final Photo" Feature state):
3. Once the SMS feature screen is presented, select the carrier from the drop-down menu and type your phone number.
**Supported carriers: Alltel, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Metro PCS, Project Fi, Sprint, T-Mobile, Ting, Tracefone, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, XFinity Mobile.
**If “Auto Collect Phone numbers” is selected, the log’s details will appear in the “email.csv” file and not in “mms.csv”. The queue will also appear in the Email feature section in the Features tab.
Settings:
Vertical Position: Choose the displayed Vertical position of the MMS Feature from the drop-down menu (you can choose between top, middle, and bottom).
Enable Number Validation: Check this box to prevent users from sending their files to the wrong number by making sure they entered the right amount of figures.
Send Photos, GIF from Photos, Burst GIF, Videos, Video from Photos (if saved): Select the types of digital media you want to include in the MMS sent through the software.
Delete Final Photo when MMS is sent: If this option is selected, final photos will be deleted once the text is sent.
Enable Sending Multiple MMS: Check this box to allow the user to send the text to multiple phone numbers (see instructions below).
Bypass State on Disclaimer Disagree or Skip: If the user disagrees with the disclaimer or presses “skip”, the next state in the workflow will be skipped.
Show Disclaimer: The disclaimer, if selected, will appear before sending the MMS.
Show Privacy Checkbox: If selected, a privacy checkbox will be added to the Disclaimer.
Collect Phone Numbers: This option allows you to collect the users’ phone numbers while using the software during your event. You can choose between the “Auto Collect Phone Numbers” option, the “Collect Phone Numbers if Allowed by User” option, and the “Do not collect Phone Numbers” option. If you select “Collect Phone Numbers if Allowed by Use”, another checkbox will be added to the disclaimer
Sending MMS\SMS to multiple numbers:
1. Check the "Enable Sending Multiple SMS" box in the feature settings in the workflow:
2. Start the preset
3. In the SMS feature screen, type in the first number you'd like to send the SMS to, and then hit "Add Number". The first SMS will be sent, and the next one will be sent after adding another number and hitting the "Add Number" or "Send" button.
If you need the Test PHP Server URLs - please contact our support team.
Twilio Troubleshooting:
If your texts are not being sent:
- Check if there is a communication issue on Twilio's end at https://status.twilio.com/
- Make sure that you have the details from your Twilio account saved to your preset
- Make sure that the SMS feature state is after the Save Final Photo feature state, and not before.
- Make sure you’re not using a Twilio trial account
- Make sure that you have a stable internet connection. If not, the software will leave the SMS pending and will send them once you get a good internet connection.
- Make sure your file size is not more than 5MB (limited by Twilio).
- Re-copy and paste all of your Twilio account details - Number, SID, and Auth Token.
- Make sure to add “+prefix” and the full number.
Here is an example of entering the data incorrectly:
Here is an example of entering the data correctly:
Note: with US numbers, the "From Number" can be without the prefix. If the SMS is not being sent, try to remove it.
- Make sure that you have the SMS service PHP address in the designated window. You can copy the PHP provided to you by Foto Master (you can find the URL address in any of Foto Master presets provided in the preset pack, and copy+paste it to your preset, or you can use your own server URL).
- Make sure you have an "Auto Save Photo " state in your workflow before the "MMS" Feature.
- Try to create a new event folder and start your preset.
Email Via Carrier additional Troubleshooting:
- If you have sent an MMS message to one carrier and it was not received, try texting a different carrier. It is possible that certain carriers have different file receiving limits (if using Twilio, it will compress the file to the required file size the carrier can receive. With the Email Via Carrier method, the files will be sent as-is, without any external involvement).
- In order to test the above, try to send a text without a photo\video\gif. You can simply remove the DSLR Photo feature state from your workflow, and load a small asset, like a signature or a logo file.
- To see if the carrier receives MMS via Email, you can use your email app and compose a new email. For example, if our carrier is Verizon, we will email 2033499983@vmpix.com. Here is the list of the carriers:
- Alltel: @mms.alltelwireless.com
AT&T: @mms.att.net
Boost Mobile: @myboostmobile.com
Cricket Wireless: @mms.cricketwireless.net
Metro PCS: @mymetropcs.com
Project Fi: @msg.fi.google.com
Sprint: @pm.sprint.com
T-Mobile: @tmomail.net
Ting: @message.ting.com
Tracfone: @mmst5.tracfone.com
U.S. Cellular: @mms.uscc.net
Verizon: @vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile: @vmpix.com
XFinity Mobile: @mypixmessages.com
- Alltel: @mms.alltelwireless.com
If sending an MMS via your email app was unsuccessful, it is possible that the specific carrier's service is down. Foto Master's server will try to send the emails within 48 hours. If sending the messages is urgent, you can manually resend the messages (see link below).
Resending MMS: If needed, you can follow this document to re-send your MMS.