file transfer via text msg

[sheriffporter]

I am wondering if there is a way to send a file (specifically an .apk file) from android to android via a text message. What I found searching is that there is a character limit, but there must be some method since you can send pics phone to phone... right?

This is for a non-profit Search and Rescue project, to send a "self-help" app to a potential lost victim.

 

[thedesolatesoul]

To send a 2MB apk (considering 1 byte/char) you would need about 13,000 sms.

 

[wl]

And don't forget to add a numbering or just cross yours fingers and hope they arrive in the correct order

PS: a textmessage has a limit of 160 (non-unicode) characters

There is a way of sending images and files (which is called MMS), but this (roughly) works as follows: an SMS message is sent with the URL. As soon as the phone receives this message it opens a network connection to your provider to read the file...

So that is exactly what you can use SMS for: a way to push a (short) message to ones phone and instruct your phone to retrieve something through a data connection.

 

[sheriffporter]

OK, that makes sense. So maybe send a FTP or HTML link to get the file then...

 

[wl]

yep that's the way to do it.

Just as a note: you can also use the C2DM library that can push messages of up to 1 Kb (if I'm not mistaking) to your device without using SMS message (which might cost extra money).