By using the text messaging delivery option we would be able to route text messages to user’s mobile phones and notify them whenever a new email, Meeting request reaches the user mailbox.

In this article we will have a look at steps to configure Text Messaging in Exchange 2013

First let’s have a look at the functionality and the components involved in the text messaging delivery option

Exchange first stamps the Text messages with the local email address phonenumber@domain.com in the categorizer for the user whom we have this option enabled.

Basically this Text Messaging Delivery works on two types of Transport Agents working on the message categorization part.

• Text Messaging Routing Agent
• Text Messaging Delivery Agent

These 2 agents’ works with a help of dedicated connector DeliveryAgentConnector for this functionality which is enabled by default from Exchange 2010

We can see this connector by running the below command

Get-DeliveryAgentConnector | fl

Once the emails is processed for any user for whom the email needs to reach his mobile device by these 2 transport agents  it then hand overs the job to the EWS. In EWS there is a component called textmessagingenabled. It verifies if  this parameter enabled in OWA Virtual Directory. If this option is enabled then the text message is transferred to the user via ews to the public ip address. It reaches user telephone service provider and then message is delivered to user as message notification.

Below are the steps to configure the text messaging delivery option

First step is to check if the text messaging option is enabled on the CAS server OWA Virtual Directory.

Run the below command to check if its enabled

Get-OwaVirtualDirectory |Ft Servername,textmessagingenabled

To enable text messaging in all CAS servers  run the below command

Get-OwaVirtualDirectory | Set-OwaVirtualDirectory –TextMessagingEnabled $True

To disable text messaging in CAS  servers run the below command

Get-OwaVirtualDirectory | Set-OwaVirtualDirectory –TextMessagingEnabled $False

Now we need to ensure the transport agents are enabled only then textmessaging option will work.

Run the below command to check if the both the agents are enabled

Get-TransportAgent

If you find it disabled you can run below command to enable them

Enable-TransportAgent   -Identity “Text Messaging Routing Agent”

Enable-TransportAgent   -Identity “Text Messaging Delivery Agent”

Now run the below command to check if the delivery agent connector is enabled  and ensure that deliveryprotocol  to mobile is enabled.

Get-DeliveryAgentConnector | fl

We are done with the config on the server side . We need to enable this option for end user through OWA .Follow the below steps

Log on to outlook web app for user whom we need to enable this functionality  and click on options

Now Click on phone and click on text messaging

Select Turn on Notifications option

Choose the mobile operator locale

Choose the mobile operator

Enter the phone number

Enter the Passcode sent to your mobile

Click on finish and we are done configuring text messaging notifications for user.

Note:

End user will be charged from his mobile operator for each and every notification that he receives in his mobile device.

Thanks
Sathish Veerapandian