SMS Home Routing is a modification to the original
GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation ( 2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such as ...
specifications that changed the way inbound (off-net)
SMS
Short Message/Messaging Service, commonly abbreviated as SMS, is a text messaging service component of most telephone, Internet and mobile device systems. It uses standardized communication protocols that let mobile devices exchange short text ...
messages are treated by mobile
telecommunications
Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than tha ...
networks. Adopted by the
3GPP in 2007, Home Routing was devised to enable mobile networks to offer a full range of advanced services on both inbound and outbound SMS, giving more utility to phone users and enabling operators to generate additional
revenue
In accounting, revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods and services related to the primary operations of the business.
Commercial revenue may also be referred to as sales or as turnover. Some companies receive rev ...
.
The roots of the problem
The original GSM specifications provided for all outbound and cross-network messaging to pass through the home network message entity, but inbound messages generated on other networks to be sent directly to target handsets under the control of the sending network, not the home network.
This inconsistency arose from the fact that SMS was conceived as a
voicemail
A voicemail system (also known as voice message or voice bank) is a computer-based system that allows users and subscribers to exchange personal voice messages; to select and deliver voice information; and to process transactions relating to ind ...
alert system, not a person-to-person messaging system, and it put SMS out of step with most other forms of communication including voice telephony, email and MMS where the home entity has responsibility for the management of both inbound and outbound traffic.
In 2006 UK mobile operator
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Public limited company, plc () is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Telephone company, telecommunications company. Its registered office and Headquarters, global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It ...
argued before the 3GPP that by effectively putting a large percentage of SMS traffic outside the direct control of the receiving network, the original GSM specification prevented operators from generating new revenue by offering certain types of
value-added
In business, total value added is calculated by tabulating the unit value added (measured by summing unit profit Price.html" ;"title="he difference between Price">sale price and production cost], unit depreciation cost, and unit Direct labor cos ...
SMS services.
The Home Routing solution
Home Routing uses the recipient network Home Location Register (HLR) to change the flow of inbound off-net messages, directing them to an SMS router, rather than straight to target handsets. There, advanced services such as divert, copy, archiving and anti-spam can be applied before messages are delivered.
SMS Home Routing was standardized by the 3GPP in two forms;
[{{Cite web , title=C4-060290 ZIP file , url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_ct/WG4_protocollars_ex-CN4/TSGCT4_30_Denver/TDocs/C4-060290.zip] Non-Transparent Home Routing supporting all types of advanced SMS services and, in response to lobbying from bulk SMS service providers, Transparent Home Routing supporting a limited sub-set of advanced SMS services and the issuance of delivery receipts.
References
Text messaging