SMS Login
The login by using a SMS is meant to be free, guests can not be charged.
In order to configure the SMS login a SMS Gateway is required. A custom SMS Gateway can also be created on an external server and then addressed via the generic HTTP GET/POST Interface in the IACBOX SMS configuration.
The SMS login requires at least one valid ticket template, configured as 0€ (free).
How it works
On the Login Page, a SMS tab will be displayed in which guests can enter a mobile phone number. After confirming the mobile phone number, first a request to the configured SMS Gateway will be sent. Then the SMS Gateway will send a SMS to the mobile phone number of the guest. The SMS will contain login credentials.
Example SMS:
Welcome to ExampleCompany!
Username: ticket1
Password: dbh3z
Status: http://logon.now
- Please note that in order to keep the SMS limit under 160 characters, the Status line will only contain a short link which will redirect to the IACBOX Login Page.
- Using the
$LINKparameter instead of http://logon.now will replace the link inside the SMS with a link that automatically logs in guests with the added credentials. - Note that the $LINK parameter will be replaced with the actual link only if the ticket was created by the guest. This does not work if the ticket has been created in the WebAdmin!
Welcome to $COMPANY
Username: $USER
Password: $PASSWORD
Status: $LINK
Selecting a SMS Gateway
The IACBOX does support a few SMS Gateway providers and interfaces out of the box. These providers can be selected directly in the SMS configuration of the IACBOX.
International:
- Twilio can be used with the Generic via HTTP method. See configuration here Sms-Twilio
Austria:
Germany:
Switzerland:
Turkey:
- Maradit Web Services
Alternate SMS Gateway
Alternatively it is possible to use a custom SMS Gateway.
If
a Webserver or Email Server is present in the environment,
the generic interfaces Generic via HTTP and Generic via Email can be used.
The servers must be configured to send an SMS which contains the information provided by the IACBOX. This can be done by using a mobile phone network interface on the sending host or by using custom software which can interact with connected mobile phone devices.
Configuration
The configuration of the SMS module can be found in the WebAdmin menu Login methods/SMS & Email.
For the fields Server, Username and Password refer to the documentation of the SMS gateway provider.
The Activation Time Slot function will take the device online for the purpose of finalizing the login process.
The device will be kept online for the duration set int the Activation Time Slot so that it will remain in the Network. This is necessary as many devices will automatically disconnect from a Captive Portal Network if an online check remains unsuccessful.
Sending SMS to alternative devices
It is possible, and sometimes necessary to send the SMS to a device other than the one that requested the ticket.
For this, the “Allow to send SMS to alternative device” function has been created.
When this option has been selected, a checkbox will appear on the Login Page called Send to another device.
If an SMS is sent to an alternative device, the Activation Time Slot is ignored and the device will not be taken online temporarily.
The alternative device will now receive the SMS with the Message that has been configured earlier.
Note that in order for the activation Link to work properly, the device visiting the link must be in the Surf-LAN.
Generic Interfaces
In addition to supported SMS gateway providers there is also the possibility of using a generic interface.
Generic via HTTP and Generic via Email enables the use of SMS APIs of providers that are not listed.
Generic via HTTP
Enter the target server with username and password for authentication. The input field user data from the WebAdmin configuration will be sent to the target server with the selected data transmission method (REST-POST, REST-GET, JSON).
Since the HTTP request can be customized in the input field Request, it is possible to determine how the target server receives and further processes the data.
The following data is transmitted regardless of the selected data transmission method:
- Username The username of the SMS gateway
- Password The password of the SMS gateway
- Message The message which will be sent to the user
- To The mobile number which was entered by the user
- Timestamp Current timestamp
Generic via Email
Enter a sender (e.g. “Internet Hotspot”) and the target email server which should receive the data from the IACBOX as email. The mobile number which was given by the guest will be added to the configured target server address by which an unique email address is being used for each mobile number.
The user data (username, password, etc.) will then be sent to the generated email address. The target server which receives this email will then send an SMS which contains the Message to the users phone number.
Example: The configured target server is sms.ip-plus.net. When a
guest enters a mobile phone number on the Client Login Page, it will
be added to the configured target server, e.g.
+43797979797@sms-ip-plus.net
Twilio
Twilio is supported via the Generic via HTTP method and can be configured with the following settings:
- Choose type Generic via HTTP
- Use the URL:
https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts/<YOUR-SID>/Messages.json- As username set the SID (usually in the format
ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)- As password set your auth token (a 32 char Hex number)
- Check Use HTTP Basic Auth
- Use Method REST - POST
- Request has to be
Body=$MESSAGE&From=%2B<YOUR-TWILIO-SENDER-NUMBER-WITHOUT-PLUS>&To=$TO- Return Validation has to be
"status": "queued"- Prefix Format is
+
WebAdmin Tickets with SMS
If the option Use for Ticket Create is active, ticket data (username, password) of newly created tickets from WebAdmin Users/Tickets/Create ticket can be directly sent via SMS.
Client Logon Page
After all settings have been made, the result can be seen on the customer logon page.
After confirming the number, a SMS with credentials will be sent. These credentials can be entered by clicking on the I have credentials link.
This will expand the section in which the received credentials can be entered to confirm this ticket and go online.
Stored Data
All used mobile phone numbers can be found in the WebAdmin menu Reporting/Collected user data and are obtainable as csv and xls downloads.
