Z* Connect

Z*Connect is a world-class software platform that provides alerts and notifications over Short Messaging Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and traditional paging networks. Z* Connect has been listed as the best mid-market products by VAR Business 500.

It is protocol independent and delivers messages to both SMS and any other wireless devices. This platform provides PushAdapters over Java messaging framework for different SMS and email protocols. Alerts and notifications generated by server applications are delivered to mobile devices (including Smart phones and pagers) using the push adapters.

These easy-to-use adapters are designed to shield developers from the details of protocols and enable quick development of wireless-smart applications.

Z*Connect has bundled a web application suite, with a rich list of features with it. The web application suite for administrator enabled remote administration. Z*Connect users can use the web application suite for sending SMS and Smart Messages through the web.

The Z*Connect SDKs are provided for applications that may require additional details at the protocol level. Each carrier that supports SMS has one or more SMS Centers (SMSC) that manages short message traffic. Z*Connect’s Push Engine allows communication between External Short Message Entities, and any wireless device, through SMSC of the wireless carrier.

Devices that do not support standard SMS protocols are also supported through SMTP protocol. Z*Connect includes Scheduler for effective scheduling of time-based alerts and notifications. The administration interface simplifies maintenance of time-based services and enables the push engine to deliver alerts and notifications to those clients registered for SMS messages. Z*Connect offers seamless integration options with any Enterprise Application.

It supports alert methodology based on specific events, transactions, and your company’s business logic. Another unique feature of Z*Connect is its ability to provide for automated escalation of high priority alerts to targeted users in accordance with predetermined rule sets.

This feature assures accountability and improves response time when dealing with mission critical events. The Z*Connect development framework enables rapid development and deployment on any industry standard messaging server. Z*Connect package includes clear and comprehensive documentation, software libraries, extensive source code examples and a built-in development and debugging environment.

It is designed so that your customers are up-to-date any time, anywhere on any device. You simply provide information and alerts that are of interest to your users and profitable to your company.
Supported protocols
GSM
TAP
SNPP
SMPP
SMTP

Application Architecture

Open Architecture
100% pure Java solution
In-Built Java Messaging Service (JMS) Server
Third party JMS Support (deployment using any JMS implementation)
XML based configurations
Protocol Independent Server



Messaging

Reliable Message delivery
Store and forward
Message Retry
Group Messaging
Message Delivery Status
Message Responses
Dynamic Protocol Fail over
Multiple Protocol Support
SMSC protocol support
SMS dialup support through TAP
Generic API - dynamically switch from one access mechanism to another
Synchronous or asynchronous sending
Long message support - send and receive long messages
Enhanced SMSC protocol support such as reconnection on connection loss, flow control and automated link monitoring and re-transmission.
Time out configurations
Group messaging
Manage message groups
Send long messages (messages longer than 160 Chars.) as concatenated short message



Application Gateway

Based on the keyword found in the received message, a remote application is invoked
Can handle multiple messages in a concurrent manner.
An XML based Configuration for the application invokers
Virtually unlimited number of parameters can be passed for each invocation.
An efficient thread pool to handle concurrent requests.
Http Invoker to invoke web based applications
Callback Invokers to invoke remote Java applications
Result of the invocation is passed back to the originating device as SMS



Receiver Engines

Listens to the network for incoming messages
Can run multiple concurrent receivers
Highly configurable
Starting and Stopping of Receive Engines
Supports SMPP and GSM
Can specify protocol specific parameters
The same modem can act as sender and receiver



Scheduler

Time based alerts
Schedule by year, month, week, day, hour and minute
UI for managing schedules
Integration with Enterprise Applications
Create alerts based on events
Alert for transactions
Alert based on some business logic
Set Priority for alerts
Create alerts Based on data feed like news (Requires Customization)
Apply filters to the data feed (Requires Customization)



WEB Application Suite for Users and Administrations

Administrators

Register users
Un register users
Block/Deblock users
Update credits for users
Show credit for existing users
Send SMS to the users
View Usage reports of users
User personal profiles
Add/delete the group
Add/delete the users to group
Send SMS to the group
View log system activities
Start/Stop server
Create, configure and delete connections
Configure Application Gateway parameters



Users

Sign in/registrations
Home page
Create shortcuts
View Account status
View log of messages sent
Create Personal library
Change profile
Maintain Phone book
Get Emails delivered as SMS
Send SMS
Maintain Contacts list
Broadcast SMS
Send Smart Messages
Compose Ringtones
Compose Icons
Create your own library
Receive Alerts based on conditions
Receive Alerts based on Filter Conditions



Technical Highlights:

Rapid integration and deployment

100% Java, Java messaging and XML compliance eliminate many interoperability issues; increase productivity and enables ease of integration and deployment.



Distributed and Scalable

Industry standard Java messaging based deployment options allow for platform and location independence and ease-of integration with other solutions and enable unlimited future growth. The built-in message queuing mechanism automatically spawns additional queues to manage load.



Secure Communication

Ensures end-to-end, confidentiality of communication using industry standard security tools.



Standard Interfaces

Our development methodology based on Java messaging and XML standard ensure ease of integration across wide range of existing enterprise applications. Using unified J2EE standards, Z*Connect wraps and embraces existing resources required by multi-tier applications with a unified, component-based application model.

Z*Connect adapters and SDK support popular SMS protocols, such as SMPP, SNPP, TAP, and SMTP.



Fault Tolerance and Load Balancing

JMS based persistent message queues provide a higher degree of fault tolerance. On demand message queue management mechanism gives an effective load balancing.



SMSC Independence

Z*Connect delivers messages, alerts and notifications to wireless devices independent of carriers’ network and SMSC.