Introduction to Frontline SMS

Introduction to FrontlineSMS

from: http://help.frontlinesms.com/manuals/1.6.16.3/introduction.htm

 

FrontlineSMS was the first text messaging system to be conceived, designed and written firmly with the needs of the non-profit sector in mind. Until its release in 2005, the majority of systems did not taken into account the nature of non-profit work, and the specific conditions (financial and physical) which many NGOs work under. The FrontlineSMS software is provided free to charities and other non-profit organisations. FrontlineSMS has been successfully deployed in over fifty countries in many areas by grassroots NGOs including the Nigerian and Philippine elections, in the sending of security alerts to fieldworkers in Afghanistan, market prices to smallholder farmers in Aceh, El Salvador and Cambodia, and to circumvent government restrictions in countries including Zimbabwe and Pakistan. You can hear directly from a growing number of FrontlineSMS users through our Guest Blog and online Community.

So, what is FrontlineSMS? Well, FrontlineSMS turns a laptop - or desktop - computer and a mobile phone or modem into a two-way group messaging hub (see image, above). Since it works anywhere there's a mobile signal, it doesn't need the Internet, a major advantage for many grassroots NGOs. Once you have the software running on your computer, you can send messages to wide groups of people, and collect responses to any questions or surveys you might want to run, all via text message! 

The FrontlineSMS success story has been cited in numerous NGO and industry research papers, websites, news sites and publications since its launch in 2005. It was short listed in the Mobile Messaging Awards 2007, named WSIS "ICT Success Story of the Month" for its use in monitoring the Nigerian elections, was a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge 2008 and won a prestigious Silicon Valley "Tech Award" in 2009.

In the first four years since its release, FrontlineSMS has been used by NGOs for a wide range of activities including blood donor recruitment and assisting human rights workers, to promoting government accountability, keeping medical students informed about education options, providing security alerts to field workers, election monitoring, the capture and exchange of vegetable (and coffee) price information, the distribution of weather forecasts, the co-ordination of healthcare workers, the organising of political demonstrations, the carrying out of surveys and the reporting and monitoring of disease outbreaks. The uses are endless!

What can FrontlineSMS do for me?

If you have already identified applications for text messaging within your organisation and are looking for a simple, comprehensive, affordable and complete entry-level system then you're in the right place. If you think text messaging could work for you but don't know where to start, and are looking to try a service without having to dig too deep into your pockets, then you're also in the right place!

FrontlineSMS is the complete text messaging solution for the non-profit sector:

• Create and manage all of your SMS-related contact groups
• Send and receive messages via special on-screen consoles
• Provides incoming and outgoing message history for each contact
• Engage with your contact groups - run surveys, competitions etc. via the SurveyManager
• Run your own text-based information service via the automated ReplyManager
• Export data to Excel and other programs
• No need to be on-line - works on any GSM network via your own PC or laptop

Who is behind FrontlineSMS?

The initial rebuild of FrontlineSMS was kindly funded by the MacArthur Foundation in 2007 and the Hewlett Foundation in 2009. The Open Society Institute and HIVOSprovided follow-on funding during the open sourcing phase, and to help us build and grow the user community. In 2010, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Omidyar Network came on board and provided further development funding. Programming and software development has been carried out by Alex and Morgan at FrontlineSMS HQ, with earlier support from Ben, Kadu and Tom at Masabi. The FrontlineSMS website was crafted by a team lead by Margaret and Marcelino - ably directed by Renny - at Wieden+Kennedy.

Finally, a big thanks to you - the users - for helping make the FrontlineSMS story a success! \o/

 

Introduction to Frontline SMS: Part 1

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Part 2: Basic Usage

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Part 3: Forms

What can I do in Forms?
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Forms is a flexible entry-level data collection tool which combines the power of a Java-based mobile phone application with the ease of use and availability of text messaging. Imagine you're a health clinic and you have staff travelling in different parts of the country collecting data on illnesses, test results and the incident of certain types of disease. At the moment this information is likely being collected on paper forms, which are then sent back to your clinic at certain time intervals, or they simply come back when the member of staff periodically returns. This is obviously a slow and inefficient way of collecting data, and doesn't give the clinic 'real time', up-to-date information from the field as it happens.

The Forms module in FrontlineSMS allows you to create copies of very simple paper forms on your computer, which can then be sent to a Java-enabled mobile phone through a text message. This phone can then be handed to a member of hospital staff who can then take it to the field with them and enter the information they collect directly onto the phone (by following a trimmed-down version of the on-screen form you have created for them). Once the data input is complete, the information collected can be sent back to FrontlineSMS as a compressed text message, giving you up-to-date and real-time information. Other systems are available that provide data collection functionality, but many rely on data connectivity via the mobile phone network. FrontlineSMS does not, and only requires that you have a mobile signal. If the forms are completed in an area where there is no signal they will be held in the phone until a signal is detected, after which they can be safely sent.

How can Frontline help DiabeTEXTS

This Frotnline SMS set-up will allow health care workers (either in Sioux Lookout or in the community) with an mobile signal and a computer to send texts to either a large number of patients or communicate with individual patients, as well as sending automated reminders for medication, events, etc.  Other functions include:

• Telemedicine - use Frontline SMS to stay in contact and send appointment reminders with CTCs in multiple communities
• Community empowerment - use Frontline SMS to send reminders for community meetings, gatherings, etc. 
• Data Collection - the forms function for SMS allows for researchers to collect and send survery responses while travelling simply on their cell phone! 

Important Links

http://www.frontlinesms.com/

This is the main site for Frontline SMS.  Many resources such as users guides, community discussion, and videos are availble. 

http://help.frontlinesms.com/manuals/1.6.16.3/help-menu.htm

This is the user's guide for Frontline 1.6.16.3, the most up to date version. 

http://frontlinesms.ning.com/

This is the community where you can ask questions, post news on how you are using Frontline SMS, and collaborate with others in your area! 

Current Set-up

Currently I am using a MultiTech MultiModem GPRS (approx $120) with a KM SIM crd and $20.00 prepaid card.  On my screen, you are looking at Frontline SMS.  Here's what I did to set it up:

1. Ordered the MutiModem from Ebay
2. Set up the SIM card with the prepaid card for unlimited texting for $2.50 in another phone FIRST by following the instructions at the back of the KM card (you can't do this from the MultiModem) and then place the SIM card in the MultiModem
3. install the driver inside windows 7 (or Vista, or XP) by following the instructions from the MultiModem GPRS CD that comes with the package.  If you are running windows 7, you will need to access the device manager to do this directly. 
4. Download Frontline from http://www.frontlinesms.com/flsms-wp/resources/download/ and install
5. The Frontline SMS software should detect the Modem after 2-3 minutes. 
6. Do a test by sending a text to a nearby cell phone, or ask your friend to reply if they receive a text.