Vodafone Ireland [600 sms/month]: to Worldwide numbers

[Zydio]

Description
With this service you can send 600 free SMS each month to all countries numbers.

Message can be up to 470 characters long, and the message is delivered as a maximum of 3 concatenated messages.


Registration
You have to have a Vodafone Ireland SIM card to use this service.
Register your Vodafone Ireland number on Vodafone Ireland's website.


Configuration
Create a new service in goText with the following address: http://www.gotext.org/pub/all-vodafoneireland.php

To configure the service in goText you have to fill in the following service configuration fields:

• User: put the Vodafone Ireland sim telephone number you registered on Vodafone Ireland website (without Irish international country code, with the leading "0")
• Pass: put the password of your Vodafone Ireland account

Service features

• Counter of remaining messages synchronized with the website
• SIM card credit reported at the end of each send
• Monthly count of messages
• Multiple recipient supported (up to 5 recipients)
• Replies in English or Italian

Important Note
The send of a message with this service takes at least 7 seconds to a maximum of 17 seconds because the service has to wait a few second during the send or goText would be blocked by anti-bot code on Vodafone Ireland website.


Vodafone Ireland SIM card info:

• Credit on the SIM card will last for a total of 12 months from the last top up, but the last 6 months of the 12 total you can only receive calls.
  If you don't want to loose your credit and keep the sim alive you simply need to top up at least once every 12 months.
  You can top up from Vodafone Ireland website with your credit card, or using a local Vodafone top up vocheur if there is a Vodafone operator in your country.
  Sources: credits FAQ and top up from abroad FAQ on Vodafone Ireland website.

Advanced usage for long messages up to 1860 characters

Description
It is possible to add the service with a parametrized url address to have longer messages, up to 1860 chars, delivered in up to 4 distinct message (each of which made up of 3 concatenated messages) with part numbers (eg: "(1/4)This is the first part of a very long message"..).


Configuration
Create a new service in goText with the following address:
http://www.gotext.org/pub/all-vodafoneireland.php?p=N

where the "N" char has to be replaced with the maximum number of parts to be used, between 1 and 4.
The maximum number of chars depends on the number of parts.

A couple of examples:

• N => 2: with 3 parts the message can be up to 930 chars long.
  Url to be used for 2 parts: http://www.gotext.org/pub/all-vodafoneireland.php?p=2
  
  
• N => 4: with 4 parts the message can be up to 1860 chars long.
  Url to be used for 4 parts: http://www.gotext.org/pub/all-vodafoneireland.php?p=4

In this mode the split message numbering is automatically forced.


Important Note
The send of a message with this alternative mode is slower compared to the regular service, and can take up to a whole minute or so for longer messages, and the maximum wait depends on the number of parts you choose to use when you have added the service.
We suggest you to not use a number of parts higher than 3, or you may encounter network error with the goText midlet application because many network operators cut the mobile connection when there is no data transfered for over a minute or so.

Service status
Working


Service author
Zydio


Thanks to newone for access to the website, and revivo who reported the service in the Italian forum, gave infos and access to the website to make the service.

[Zydio]

Added advanced usage for power users who want to write even longer message (with a longer wait).

[Mip104]

Really wonderful properties and features, I wish I had one

[Zydio]

Service updated with a smarter code to reduce the time necessary to send long messages with numbered parts by 1/4 or 1/3 in the worst cases.

The update is already available to all users of the gotext.org hosted service (you don't even need to use the in-program update function).
Those who use the service on their own servers need to download and update the php file, as always.

[mature]

do i have to load any credit to my vodafone irish prepay plan in a or more month to not closed my vodafone account?
I want to buy a activated sim from ireland so can i use 600sms for years without load credit?

[Zydio]

do i have to load any credit to my vodafone irish prepay plan in a or more month to not closed my vodafone account?
I want to buy a activated sim from ireland so can i use 600sms for years without load credit?

Reply to your question has been added to the first post ("Vodafone Ireland SIM card info").

[Zydio]

Service updates on goText server and SVN with latest changes on Vodafone Ireland gateway, that now finally sends concatenated messages.
The maximum number of custom numbered parts has been lowered while the maximum message length increased.

Please use the "Update" feature on the service screen in goText to update the limits accordingly.

PS: sends should be now speedier even in custom split mode.