S60 3rd: SMS Scheduler

[im92109210]

SMS Scheduler Review.

One of the main features missed on the E90 (and other Series 60 3rd Edition phones) is scheduled SMS, which lets the user send messages at a later time set. Now SMS Scheduler lets you do just that.

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Upon starting the application this note comes up notifying the user that it will be using a few capabilities of the device. These are:

1) NetworkServices: Access to remote services without any restriction on its physical location.
2) LocalServices: Access to remote services in the close vicinity of the phone.
3) ReadUserData: Read access to data confidential to the phone user.
4) WriteUserData: Write access to data confidential to the phone user.
5) UserEnvironment: Access to live confidential information about the user and his/her immediate environment.

This pops up every time the application starts. This is a trial version, but only after this is closed the screen of using a trial version and registration comes up. So I am uncertain if this is a message that will permanently pop up.
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After that, the main registration page appears. This program has various methods of registration/payment. First option is to try out the program for 15 days. This program can be activated by wap purchase and scratch cards or entering the activation key. Other options given are Downloads (to download more applications from the developer) and there are two remaining, to share the application with a friend and information “About” the program.
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Testing a trial version, Continue trial was selected, and then comes the main page of the application. Which has four main parts:

1) Activated/Deactivated
2) Message Scheduler
3) History
4) Settings
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Clicking the select button changes the application from Deactivated to Activated. Then the option for exit is no longer available. Only hide is now offered so let the application run in the background to send the scheduled SMS.
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[im92109210]

Entering the “Message Scheduler” brings up the list of scheduled SMS the user has set. Pressing options brings up create schedule and help.
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Selecting “create schedule” brings up the text entry screen where the user enters the SMS wished to be sent at a later time.
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After completion the user gets to select who the receiver will be either by entering the Mobile Number or by selecting from the Address Book.
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After selecting a number, the application asks for the date and time the message is to be sent on. In a test to send the message at the current time through the application, it brought up this notification:
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Note: When the application asks to add a receiver, the options are yes and no as shown above. Once the user adds one or more contacts or number the “same” screen comes again asking to add a receipt through the Address Book or Entering a Number with the same yes and no options.
To move on to the date and time, the user has to select “no”. The problem with this is, when the same screen comes back again, it does not show that the user had already added a receiver. This might lead to the repetition of adding a receiver. Only after the whole process is completed and an entry shows in the “Message Scheduler” section can the user see who are the receivers selected. Hopefully this might be fixed at later versions.

[im92109210]

After an entry has been completed it can be reached at the “Message Scheduler” section where pressing “options” allows the user to edit the current one, delete it, delete all, help, and create a new schedule.
The date, time, message, receiver are all mentioned and also the status is shown on the far right. If a user makes a schedule while the application is Deactivated a note comes up and asks to activate it.
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In the third section, History, lists all the messages that have been sent with date and time.
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Under settings there isn’t much to choose from, 1) to set the application to automatically hide and 2) to set the application to automatically start.
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At the main screen if the user presses “Hide” a pop up message will remind the user that the application is still running.
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About SMS Scheduler
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[im92109210]

I personally have been looking for a program to schedule SMS for quite a while and this one is very simple and easy to use. More options would be welcome but it does a fairy good job with what it can do so far. That part with the repeating screens to add receipts need more work to show people and numbers already added. Another observation; when selecting more than one receiver the application creates separate entries in the “Message Scheduler” section, this could be a user preference but I thought if it would remain as one entry and let the user to edit receivers from inside the message would have been better.

Experience: The program was stable, worked well on both inner and outer screens and is a 100% compatible with the E90. Performance was normal and did a good job of sending scheduled SMS, no problems found or delays. I would recommend this program and as for getting the task done, I rate it 8/10.

The program tested was a trial and not a full version although it was fully functional.
The trial and full version can be found at the My-symbian.com Online Shop (http://my-symbian.com/s60v3/download/search.php?name=SMS%20Scheduler)

[michael4000]

the program tested was a trial

[ishaanranderia]

its such a useful feature, i dont know why Nokia left it out.

[im92109210]

@michael4000, Yes it was. I also mentioned it in the second last line :)
@ishaanranderia, I know!! its very irritating at times when simple basic features that other Nokia phone have for ages gets left out in something apparently "newer" and "better" :p

[ishaanranderia]

isn't there a freeware available that does the same thing?

[Box215]

its such a useful feature, i dont know why Nokia left it out.

one is left to wonder why nokia does A LOT of things (no sms counter on s60 devices since...ever lol. which as we all know is readily available on s40)

or why the call life time doesnt go above 99 hours (for all calls on my phone is says 3 hours and 34 minutes...but it should really be 603 hours and 24 minutes!

[carcomptoy]

For the SMS counter, that can be network provided, can't it? I always check mine regularly out of boredom, even though I have an unlimited plan.

[NZtechfreak]

Looks interesting, will try it out sometime, although I don't really have a use for this!

[im92109210]

@carcomptoy, not all networks have that feature. I dont have that feature and neither does my phone apparently...