SWITCHsms – how to participate as an institution

Requirements

Institutions can apply for this service provided that

  1. the institution is connected to the SWITCH network, and
  2. the institution is running a SWITCH AAI Identity Provider, themselves or hosted at SWITCH.

By ordering this service, the institution agrees to offer the complete service to all of its members (students, staff, ...). The institution may charge their members for this service.

What does it cost?

a) SMS 

The first 2000 SMS per quarter CHF 0.50 per e-mail 
The next 4000 SMS per quarter CHF 0.25 per e-mail
The next 6000 SMS per quarter CHF 0.13 per e-mail
All further SMS per quarter CHF 0.07 per e-mail

 

Messages sent through the Websms application may generate up to five e-mails.


b) Fax
CHF 1.40 per e-mail

c) Pager

Same cost structure as for SMS. Costs for pager and SMS messages are being bundled and appear on the same line.

How to order it

The IT Department of the institution contacts us and indicates

  1. The name and address of the institution, including its billing address,
  2. Which server(s) is/are allowed to send e-mails to the service. This is usually a list of valid host names of servers at the institution.
  3. The name and address of an administrator responsible for controlling the usage limits of the
    Websms application.

Statistics

Monthly aggregated use statistics for each institution can be supplied on request. 

Excessive use

SWITCH may suspend the SMS service for institutions showing excessive use, in order to prevent costs arising from user errors. The postmaster of the institution is usually notified who will then look into possible causes.