ETSI TR 123 039

The present document describes a range of alternative interfaces which may be utilised by Short Message Service Centre (SMSC), and Short Message Entity (SME), developers for the connection of SMEs to SMSCs.

The purpose of the present document is to provide a single document within which the various proprietary SMSC to SME interface standards may be accommodated as optional implementations.

As stated in 3GPP TS 23.040 [1], the functionality of the SMSC is outside of the scope of the 3GPP Technical Specifications. As a result, no standardised interfaces have been specified for the connection of SMEs to the SMSC. In the absence of a prevailing standard, SC (Service Centre), developers have devised their own protocols which have not necessarily been based on any existing standards and are therefore largely incompatible with one another.

This document by referring to the various de-facto protocols will limit the further proliferation of proprietary standards and will benefit new SC/SME developers who may then adopt one or more of the existing protocols outlined in the present document.

This document does not provide recommendations, as to the preferred protocol implementation as all are regarded as being of equal merit. SC/SME implementors should therefore adopt the protocol most suited to their particular implementation, application or market.