Overview

How does the SMS service work?

  • Simply sign on to the unique University of Manchester site, type in your message(s), key in the mobile number(s) and press send.
  • The web portal is used to authenticate you as a valid user and to encrypt your messages.
  • All messages are stored and sent across the internet using industry standard encryption.
  • The site allows you to send single or multiple SMS messages via our systems to mobiles on over 500 networks worldwide, either instantly or at some scheduled time in the future. Messages are typically delivered within five seconds of being sent from your computer.

One way SMS

This feature enables the sender to send SMS messages to and from mobile devices, but does not permit the receiver of the SMS to reply to the original message. Messages may vary in length or number. For reference, a single SMS message can contain up to 160 characters and comprise of words, numbers or an alphanumeric combination.

Two way SMS

This optional feature allows the recipient of the SMS to respond directly to the sender via the sender’s email address or the desktop software.

Integration

The University of Manchester web portal meets the needs of many users but cannot hope to completely match everyone’s needs. The supplier of the site (Meercat Communications Ltd) can:

  • provide direct technical assistance to create a new service;
  • provide technical assistance to integrate the site with each department’s own contact database; and
  • work with the Faculty, School or administrative division's own staff to provide such integration.

Other products

  • Little Black Book – A visitor management system for use on a reception desk to log in visitors/staff
  • Integration with SIMS, student administration system