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'''SMS Home Routing''' is a modification to the original [[GSM]] specifications that changed the way inbound (off-net) [[SMS]] messages are treated by mobile [[telecommunications]] 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]].
{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}
'''Home Routing''' SMS home routing means that the receiving mobile operator assumes responsibility for the delivery of an SMS, rather than the sending mobile operator. Mobile operators use SMS home routing to control the reception of SMS messages into their network, in all cross-network SMS traffic, including roaming situations.
==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]] 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.
==Introduction==
In 2006 UK mobile operator [[Vodafone]] argued before the 3GPP<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/23840.htm|title=23840}}</ref> 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 service|value-added]] SMS services.
SMS home routing is a new architecture where the ‘recipient’ mobile operator takes control of the final delivery of text messages to the subscriber. In the current SMS delivery infrastructure, the sending operator has control and full visibility over the delivery of the message, being able to communicate with its subscriber whether the message has been delivered or not. When the sending operator looses this control, the transparency in the message delivery is compromised, as well as the delivery itself.
==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;<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.
Although the home routing system is enhanced in roaming situations, it applies to all cross-network SMS traffic, which includes domestic and international messaging traffic. Technically speaking, a home routing system can be deployed by installing a patch to its Home Location Register (HLR), as well as the deployment of SMS routers in their network.
Although still in early stages, the SMS home routing system has already been deployed by some operators in Europe and Asia Pacific. Some problems have been already noticed by companies offering services in the mobile sector and there is concern about how passing control to the sending operator causes the quality of SMS to diminish.
==Potential Benefits==
By implementing SMS home routing, the receiving operator has a control point for messaging delivery, which would enable it to offer its subscribers value-added services that might include antispam, auto reply, parental control and divert and auto copy. Theoretically operators can charge a premium for these features and therefore generate new revenue streams.
Mobile operators might use SMS home routing as a filtering system, especially to prevent spam. This, however, has to be a transparent process especially when communicating this implementation to the operator’s roaming partners.
A number of mobile messaging infrastructure providers are legitimately offering products in this space, including Telsis and Acision.
==Issues & Risks==
By implementing SMS home routing, the SMS delivery ecosystem could change dramatically, causing quality issues. If this new architecture becomes a standard hardware deployment in mobile networks, then the universal reliability of SMS messaging (congested networks or outages notwithstanding) may disappear. Risks when implementing SMS home routing might be:
'''Decrease on the reliability of SMS means loss of consumer trust'''
The SMS infrastructure with home routing could reduce the quality of SMS by allowing the receiving operator to filter messages, meaning there is a risk that not all messages will be delivered. This could potentially create a situation where delivery receipts issued by the sending operator are not valid anymore.
For the subscriber, this could mean that messages sent and paid for aren’t guaranteed to arrive. Direct consequences might be the reduction of SMS interactions between subscribers as well as a loss in consumer confidence in SMS interaction with commercial entities such as TV voting and mobile marketing campaigns.
Last but not least, complaints from subscribers of are likely to increase significantly, due to the lack of reliability and incorrect billing.
'''Impact on the nascent enterprise SMS market'''
The lack of reliability and transparency could also impact the growth of enterprise SMS. The restrictions in SMS delivery are an issue especially to enterprise customers, as there is a potential that enterprise SMS traffic might be jeopardized.
Industry sectors using text messaging as a mechanism to alert consumers with emergency and critical information could also suffer from lack of delivery. This would result in less usage of the SMS messaging service, or even companies considering switching to other technologies.
'''Lack of transparency among roaming partners'''
When a mobile operator implements a Home Routing system without informing roaming partners, a transparency issue can also arise in regards to the delivery of messages, as well as the fees charged.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Text messaging]]
*GSM Association [http://www.gsmworld.com GSM Association ]
*Mobile Messaging Analyst, Informa Telecoms & Media [http://www.tyntec.biz/en/news-presse/documents/Could_cellcos_search_for_value-added_SMS_services_cost_them_MMA_Sep2007.pdf]
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