Comment Useless results (Score 1) 551
The results posted are absolutely useless. As one who has actually builds and maintains these systems, I would suggest the success rate is actually MUCH (99+) higher for in-system sms, and getting much better for inter-carrier messages. The problem with "surveys" like this is that you have no idea how the test was conducted. Because SMS uses the forward control channel, which which is also used for call set up, regnots...etc., subscriber density in a given cell sector can have a HUGE impact on "first try" message success. If the control channel is busy at the second the message hits the switch, the message will get queued at the SMSC for retry.
Obviously, if you have 50 phones in one cell sector, and hit them with 100
messages at a time, a higher percentage than normal will get queued.
The problem most folks here seem to have is with the retry rate.
Each carrier sets the retry rate in their SMSCs on a individual basis. Because there are costs associated with the trunking of SS7 traffic, some carriers choose to set the rate at an unbelievably slow pace. I am aware
of one carrier who has a retry rate of every 6 hours for 72 hours. This means if your phone is off, in an analog coverage area (there are still huge
swaths of America which do not have digital coverage),or busy your message will be retried in 6 hours( if the phone's still in the same condition your screwed for another 6).
The cell phone is not a multi-tasking device. Even the newer "smart" phones cannot handle more that one OTA process at a time, so its all about retry rate. In general, we have found that the smaller regional/local carriers do a better job with SMS then the big boys, simply because they
have reduced trunking costs, and are more willing to up the retry rate.
Obviously, if you have 50 phones in one cell sector, and hit them with 100
messages at a time, a higher percentage than normal will get queued.
The problem most folks here seem to have is with the retry rate.
Each carrier sets the retry rate in their SMSCs on a individual basis. Because there are costs associated with the trunking of SS7 traffic, some carriers choose to set the rate at an unbelievably slow pace. I am aware
of one carrier who has a retry rate of every 6 hours for 72 hours. This means if your phone is off, in an analog coverage area (there are still huge
swaths of America which do not have digital coverage),or busy your message will be retried in 6 hours( if the phone's still in the same condition your screwed for another 6).
The cell phone is not a multi-tasking device. Even the newer "smart" phones cannot handle more that one OTA process at a time, so its all about retry rate. In general, we have found that the smaller regional/local carriers do a better job with SMS then the big boys, simply because they
have reduced trunking costs, and are more willing to up the retry rate.
