sms4you

# Why still SMS in 2019?

- There are people with a dumb phone, not a smart phone.
- Some services (e.g. banks) insist on SMS TAN or verification, despite security and convenience penalties.
- Sometimes there is only GSM available, but no mobile data.
- Least common denominator for mobile texting.

# Why not use SMS with a phone?

- There are good reasons not to own or use a mobile phone at all.
- SMS roaming might be expensive in the case of travelling.

## Opposite use case:

- Only dumb phone available or no data connection present.
- But post-SMS communication is needed.

# `sms4you` to the rescue!

- `sms4you` is a gateway between SMS and XMPP for a single user, the phone number is used as id.
- Only a USB modem for GSM/UMTS/LTE and a computer with Internet connection is needed.
- XMPP can be used from almost any device, even via a web browser.
- SIM stays at home, tracking becomes pointless.

# Why not use an existing gateway?

- `soprani.ca` a.k.a. `JMP.chat` offer a very nice gateway between telephony and XMPP, including SMS.
- Unfortunately, they have trunk phone numbers, that are not accepted for TANs by most banks.
- People complain about costly text messages to Canadian phone numbers.
- For privacy or similar reasons, self-hosting might be preferred.

# How does it work?

- `sms4you` is implemented as XMPP server component.
- Tested with Prosody, should work with any XMPP server.

# Where can I find it?

- https://gitlab.com/xamanu/sms4you
- AGPL-3 licensed