Linux-powered SMS FoxBox provides web-based texting management

For the folks out there looking to seriously take advantage of those unlimited text messages, Acme Systems has designed the SMS FoxBox in order to give you "a compact and low cost solution to send and receive SMS messages using a commercial SIM card." The Linux-powered device includes a GSM quad-band modem, a SD / MMC memory card slot to store the messages, and a web-based interface to manage the mayhem. Acme claims that its unit can receive up to 30 incoming texts per minute, and it also touts an SQLite embedded SQL server, expandable set of gateway functions, fully customizable software, and even a pair of USB ports to store excess messages on thumb drives or external HDDs. So if you've been looking for some serious horsepower in the SMS to TCP/IP realm, you can plunk down your €750 ($1,012) and give that HTC keyboard a rest.

[Via LinuxDevices]

[DAZA @ May 21st 2007 6:12AM]

How much is a license or approval so operators will deliver SMSs? I've always wondered how much they are and how much a profit the Telco's are making.

[Diarmuid Mallon @ May 21st 2007 6:58AM]

As the article states "a compact and low cost solution to send and receive SMS messages using a commercial SIM card." - so you just put an existing SIM in there - and the costs will be governed by whatever tariff/contract you are on. (Many carriers now offer SIM only contracts these days, particularly MVNOs)

I'm not aware of any operators limiting what devices you put a SIM in - but of course you should always check your contract.

[BowserUSC @ May 21st 2007 7:24AM]

I'm not even sure what a person would use this for.

[spam_from_engadget @ May 21st 2007 10:07AM]

"low cost"??? It would be much, much cheaper to use an old phone (you've probably got one already sitting unused in a drawer) connected to something like and NSLU2 by USB. Or, use an online service like sms2email.com.

[SuperQ @ May 21st 2007 12:02PM]

This would probably be a nice backup tool for admins who want to have their paging systems send out SMS messages.

Normally I would setup a modem to dial TAP gateways, but not all the phone carriers have them setup (and reliable)