Re: [Skunkworks] Mpesa Automation
We're well aware of Cellulant et al...nothing against them...but sometimes we like to get our hands dirty and keep 100% of revenues :) There's no better way to know the ins and outs of the technology than tinkering around. I'm ordering my Siemens kit today, will let others know how it comes along later on the list. For Joe and others interested, here's the Siemens general AT command set<https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzRNyxOjn27COGZmMDRhZjctNDhkZC00ZGE4LWE4YTItODVlMTYwYmZiNzMy&hl=en&authkey=COGE__kP>and the more specific Sim Application Toolkit (SAT) user guide<https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzRNyxOjn27CZGYyMWI4MWMtZDQ2Mi00MDBjLTlkYTItYmQxODRhNGQwMTQ3&hl=en&authkey=CMXmkZMP>which is the nugget.
Update: The Siemens TC35i Terminal is discontinued, the MC55i GPRS Terminal is the quad-band successor...though it still supports the same STK AT command set. You'll also find it under the brand name Cinterion sometimes.
Update #2: Just opened a FedEx box with a Cinterion MC55i GSM modem inside...now to play on some Perl/PHP code over the holiday period! Hope my RS232 to USB cable doesn't let me down...
I can give u a head start! Inbox me privately! On 17 December 2010 18:26, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
Update #2: Just opened a FedEx box with a Cinterion MC55i GSM modem inside...now to play on some Perl/PHP code over the holiday period! Hope my RS232 to USB cable doesn't let me down... _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Mimano G. Muthondu, Software Developer skype : gmimano Mobile : +254 723 615 206
@Haggai... ...what is it used for? Claire. On 12/17/10, Geoffrey Mimano <soyfactor@gmail.com> wrote:
I can give u a head start! Inbox me privately!
On 17 December 2010 18:26, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
Update #2: Just opened a FedEx box with a Cinterion MC55i GSM modem inside...now to play on some Perl/PHP code over the holiday period! Hope my RS232 to USB cable doesn't let me down... _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Mimano G. Muthondu, Software Developer skype : gmimano Mobile : +254 723 615 206
I'm already talking to it nicely with minicom with an RS232/USB cable on ubuntu 10.04...even spits out 'RING' on-screen repeatedly when someone calls me...too bad I can't pick it up unless I have an analog telephone head around :) @Claire: The objective is rather simple: It's pretty easy to automate receiving cash via mpesa on your line and parsing the received text to do stuff like topping up a customer account automatically etc. This assumes you've connected the said line to a server thru a phone or other GSM modem and have some software to read mpesa texts as they come in on the modem. The problem here is that there's no other way to get the money out of that line except: 1. You periodically go to that phone hooked up to the server and manually navigate the mpesa menu and send Kshs X to yourself, your employees/bank/kplc/landlord etc 2. You have an arrangement (other than Paybill) with safaricom to move that cash somewhere periodically as it comes in which for the life of me I cannot fathom. I am also separately working on getting a Paybill account as I tend to hit the limit quite a bit on the first days of the month...just got my CR12 form...but that's a story for another day. What I'm attempting is to automate navigation of the mpesa menu while the modem is hooked up to a linux box and send money to the bank or to a particular set of numbers with a web frontend i.e. automating sending cash via mpesa. This is via the so-called AT commands, of which the modem I imported has a very extensive command set - even commands dealing with sim applications. As I do this I do not see why safcom should be offended since I'm not hacking their oh-so-precious code on the sim. At the same time, I don't pay safcom a dime above the normal mpesa charges :) The beauty of this is you are free to do all kinds of things e.g. set your app to send money at particular time intervals, when it reaches a particular balance, notify you via sms/email when the cash is above/below a certain level...send you the mpesa transaction details in daily reports...you get the drift. Very useful for guys like me who have a love/hate relationship with phone calls from clients sending you cash at ungodly hours to top up accounts and so on.
Haggai, Dream on. No one gets to keep 100% of revenue, no matter the product, you have spoken like a true techie. As you "get your hands dirty" remember this and if you are patient enough you'll find this for yourself. Tinker away. Kiania On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
We're well aware of Cellulant et al...nothing against them...but sometimes we like to get our hands dirty and keep 100% of revenues :) There's no better way to know the ins and outs of the technology than tinkering around. I'm ordering my Siemens kit today, will let others know how it comes along later on the list. For Joe and others interested, here's the Siemens general AT command set and the more specific Sim Application Toolkit (SAT) user guide which is the nugget. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] "You don't build a business, you build people who build your business for you" - Brad Sugars
You have to give up part of the revenue in order to get what you don't have be it infrastructure, pay for short code etc you name it. It was actually that simple, nothing cryptic Kiania D On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 10:24 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
I do not get Kiania's comments. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] "You don't build a business, you build people who build your business for you" - Brad Sugars
So u suggesting that Haggai get a PRSP line? ama what part of revenue does he have to most likely give up?
@David...I am well aware that what I set out to do is technically feasible but it has transactional limits...hence why I'm also applying for Paybill at the same time so as to give my company breathing space. I hope you do realize that transactional limits will just get higher and higher, however long it takes. It's your kind of attitude ('dream on' et al) to the idea - and others similar - that makes people complacent...I refuse to sit and be satisfied with the status quo. So what if I try and fail? At least I will confirm what is and isn't possible, technical or otherwise. Tinkering and trying out new ideas is not new to me, it's how I have paid for my education and bills years out of campus. It's my money and time that I spend on this endeavour for the sake of informing others (and easing my business when it works), not yours... Don't take this to be an attack on your character because it's far from my intention. It's just that I frown upon anyone urging me to give up when you yourself haven't even tried or don't supply evidence to back up your claims. I will only abandon my efforts when I try repeatedly and fail.
Unless im wrong, looking at this http://adn.agi.com/forum/ this looks quite possible. If you decide to make this an opensource project, invite me. On 12/17/10, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
@David...I am well aware that what I set out to do is technically feasible but it has transactional limits...hence why I'm also applying for Paybill at the same time so as to give my company breathing space. I hope you do realize that transactional limits will just get higher and higher, however long it takes. It's your kind of attitude ('dream on' et al) to the idea - and others similar - that makes people complacent...I refuse to sit and be satisfied with the status quo. So what if I try and fail? At least I will confirm what is and isn't possible, technical or otherwise. Tinkering and trying out new ideas is not new to me, it's how I have paid for my education and bills years out of campus. It's my money and time that I spend on this endeavour for the sake of informing others (and easing my business when it works), not yours...
Don't take this to be an attack on your character because it's far from my intention. It's just that I frown upon anyone urging me to give up when you yourself haven't even tried or don't supply evidence to back up your claims. I will only abandon my efforts when I try repeatedly and fail.
-- Sent from my mobile device
You have heart and skill my friend and I encourage you to go ahead to deploy. I was saying dream on to keeping 100% revenue. A notion I find laughable even now True entrepreneurs are impossible to discourage and match on esp in the face of opposition. They also talk less and do more. You are judged on what you do not what you say you'll do. I am one I speak with personal experience. Kiania On 12/17/10, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
@David...I am well aware that what I set out to do is technically feasible but it has transactional limits...hence why I'm also applying for Paybill at the same time so as to give my company breathing space. I hope you do realize that transactional limits will just get higher and higher, however long it takes. It's your kind of attitude ('dream on' et al) to the idea - and others similar - that makes people complacent...I refuse to sit and be satisfied with the status quo. So what if I try and fail? At least I will confirm what is and isn't possible, technical or otherwise. Tinkering and trying out new ideas is not new to me, it's how I have paid for my education and bills years out of campus. It's my money and time that I spend on this endeavour for the sake of informing others (and easing my business when it works), not yours...
Don't take this to be an attack on your character because it's far from my intention. It's just that I frown upon anyone urging me to give up when you yourself haven't even tried or don't supply evidence to back up your claims. I will only abandon my efforts when I try repeatedly and fail.
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] "You don't build a business, you build people who build your business for you" - Brad Sugars
participants (6)
-
Claire Njoki -
David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd -
Dennis Kioko -
Geoffrey Mimano -
Haggai Nyang -
Makobu