SMS desktop app

[robi]

@timconsidine I saw it.. and some of the issue comments.

Since it's an API thing, it should be up to the user to choose GV or other services IMO.

[timconsidine]

@robi Yes, he may well get to it, as Michael uses GVoice and is the main driver for features at this stage.

The app also works with the chosen platform to configure it.
For Telnyx and Twilio, the app will create a messaging profile and configure the platform auto-magically to link the number.
So the app may need extending to do the same for Google Voice .... if that is possible.

Having said that, you may well be able to configure Google Voice manually with the required webhook for where the app is deployed e.g. https://sms.domain.tld/api/setting/receive-sms/telnyx

Apologies I don't know anything really about Google Voice or what it supports. I read Google is turning off forwarding of SMS to email, which a lot of people relied on previously.

[robi]

@timconsidine Thanks for that, while I don't have it installed, I can't try it and I'd like to see it at least documented somewhere, even if as a hack.

[timconsidine]

@robi understood
I got a message that they will incorporate my HOW-TO in their official docs.

There are couple screenshots on one of their pages.
I can make some others.
But maybe you need more.

It's definitely still beta, but it's working without frills like decent address book, group lists etc. But I think they are coming.

I also noticed that someone has posted a message requesting Dockerfile for Cloudron install !

[subtlecourage]

@timconsidine
Little by little!

I am so stoked!

Would you consider your version prod ready?

[timconsidine]

@subtlecourage hmmm, good question
Depends on how consider production ready.

Yes, it's working ! To send out SMS and receive inbound.

But no, because the app is still officially beta, and there are features not yet implemented (voice but I don't need that) and contacts management, export of SMS

Overall I think it's worth trying out, with the understanding that it is still evolving.

EDIT : if you follow the LXC installation route, it's easy to try it out. Just remove the container if you feel it's not ready yet. Telnyx numbers are month-by-month subscription so no long-term commitment.

[privsec]

Wow, what an awesome concept, though looks a bit complicated setup. Do you run into any errors while using?

[timconsidine]

@privsec : it's not complicated, just multiple steps

If you want to actually understand, I put the references to tutorials with explanation.
but i abstracted the steps into a 'monkey see, monkey do' process
btw, I am the monkey referred to !

sorry for one hand typing

if you follow the steps you should be ok, but ler me know if anything needs clarifying

no, i don't get any errors using it

[privsec]

@timconsidine Hahaha, you are hilarious!

For LXC, can that be ran simultaneously on a cloudron server?

[timconsidine]

@privsec

For LXC, can that be ran simultaneously on a cloudron server?

well in theory I guess it could as LXC containers are separate from what else is going on in the VPS

But I have a personal rule not to touch the Cloudron server other than through the Cloudron dashboard and the Cloudron CLI for custom apps. I don't log in to the VPS and don't do any maintenance on it. I just leave it all to Cloudron.

I use another VPS from SSDNODES for 'experiments' and 'self-self-hosted' apps.

[subtlecourage]

sorry to revive this conversation, @privsec and @timconsidine, but how powerful of a server do you need?

[timconsidine]

@subtlecourage I don't think the project states minimum requirements.
it's not a doing a lot, just a small mongodb and some api polling
so I would guess a modest one
nor more than 8gb ram and probably 4gb ram would be enough
although that depends on what else is running on that VPS (remembering this app is in a container)

[subtlecourage]

@timconsidine thanks for the fast reply.

Ok! Not a beefy one. I’m considering setting up these up for customers on an individual basis, and it seems a simple low tier server would be all that’s needed to run these.

Probably a server with 20gb ram for multi number/family use cases would be appropriate.

[privsec]

@subtlecourage that’s a neat idea, how would you offer support for that?

[timconsidine]

@subtlecourage here is the htop from the container

Not much going on

[scooke]

@timconsidine said in SMS desktop app:

virtual number service (Hushed) but it's not cheap

Hushed is one sale at:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/hushed-com-nat-2
https://stacksocial.com/sales/hushed-private-phone-1-line-plan-1000-mins-6000-sms (I bought a Lifetime plan from StackSocial 5+ years ago)

This last one is Hushed bundled with Keep Solid VPN Unlimited (I've been using both for 5+ years with good success):
https://stacksocial.com/sales/the-lifetime-mobile-privacy-security-subscription-bundle-hushed

I guess since it's been 5+ years you can count on the service to last, and not bait-and-switch after a year.

[LoudLemur]

@timconsidine There is an SMS module in Odoo / Flectra, which might have some functionality you need. Odoo and Flectra are in the wishlist:

https://www.odoo.com/app/sms-marketing

[timconsidine]

@loudlemur thanks, but I don't need oodo / flectra

[privsec]

@scooke
The issue with apps like these is their privacy priactices

) Usage Information
i. like most website and app operators, we collect information about your interactions with the Services, such as which screens or pages you visit, what you click on, when you perform those actions, language preferences, and so on);
ii. message content contained within SMS/MMS segments as well as the source and destination numbers are stored until you delete your message history, associated phone number, or your account;
iii. CDR (Call Detail Records) are stored until you delete the call log, associated phone number, or your account (CDRs contains various attributes of the call, such as time, duration, completion status, source number, and destination number);
iv. voicemail recordings and voicemail greetings are stored until you delete voicemail recordings, voicemail greetings, the associated phone number, or your account; and
v. You are entirely and solely responsible for any information that you disclose or share with other users through our Services. We strongly recommend that you use extreme caution in sharing any personal information with other parties through our Services – AffinityClick is not responsible for any information that you disclose to other parties through our Services.

e) Information from Third Parties and Integration Partners
i. we collect your information or data from third parties if you give permission to those third parties to share your information with us or where you have made that information publicly available online (e.g. if you enable service integrations with DropBox or Slack, they may send us your information which they have collected, all of which will be controlled by such third party); and
**ii. other sources (to the extent permitted by applicable law we may receive additional information about you, such as demographic data or fraud detection information and warnings, or other information about you from partner networks).**

And

f) Log Data
i. we collect log data each time a device accesses our servers, log data includes details about the nature of each access including originating IP addresses, access times, device type, operating system versions, internet service providers, pages you view before and after using the Services, links to third party applications, and hardware and software information.

The benefits of this self hosted service is you control pretty much everything.

[privsec]

@timconsidine said in SMS desktop app:

htop

WOW!! I think @subtlecourage has the right idea here about offering this as a potential service.

The load on this machine is minuscule.

So question, the RAM usage, it appears to be megabytes, does that correlate with the size of the DB?

Or will it pretty much stay below 250mbs?

Because based off of that, you really don't need even a modest machine. It looks like you could run this on a potato.