This tutorial explains how to send an SMS from your Raspberry Pi without using a GSM modem. In this tutorial, we’ll be sending the SMS through the internet using the ClickSend SMS API.

  1. Create an account at ClickSend.com
  2. Create a Python script and add your ClickSend credentials

    # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- username = 'User' # Your ClickSend username api_key = 'XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX' # Your Secure Unique API key msg_to = '+61411111111' # Recipient Mobile Number in international format (+61411111111 test number). msg_from = '' # Custom sender ID (leave blank to accept replies). msg_body = 'This is a test message' # The message to be sent. import json, subprocess request = { "messages" : [ { "source":"rpi", "from":msg_from, "to":msg_to, "body":msg_body } ] } request = json.dumps(request) cmd = "curl https://rest.clicksend.com/v3/sms/send -u " + username + ":" + api_key + " -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" -X POST --data-raw '" + request + "'" p = subprocess.Popen(cmd,stdout=subprocess.PIPE,stderr=subprocess.PIPE,shell=True) (output,err) = p.communicate() print output
  3. Connect to the Raspberry Pi via SSH/PuTTY (Raspberry pi must be connected to the Internet) https://raspberrypi4dummies.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/connect-to-the-raspberry-pi-via-ssh-putty/
  4. Copy script clicksend.py from your windows PC to your Raspberry Pi. (../home/pi)
  5. Start script clicksend.py with your parameters: python clicksend.py
  6. Done! Your SMS should’ve been sent by now.

We’d love to hear what you’ve created. Please get in touch with us for some free SMS credits.