Welcome to the FrontlineSMS user resources section. Here you will find an expanding range of downloadable resources – guides, presentations, technical documents and videos. These resources are free to use and distribute, either as hard copy or electronically. To download, click on any image. The file type and size is detailed in the description.

“SMS Quick Start Guide” [PDF: 1.5Mb]Ashoka Changemakers and kiwanja.net

This “Quick Start” guide is intended to demystify SMS and help get you set up to using text messaging in your work in the shortest possible time. The guide is not intended to serve as a comprehensive look at the use of SMS, but rather a short overview of SMS considerations and an introduction into how it works. For more in-depth information, this guide is supplemented by a resource section to help you as you continue your SMS journey.

“FrontlineSMS Powerpoint Presentation” [PPT: 9.5Mb]kiwanja.net

An introductory set of 19 slides in Microsoft Powerpoint format for use at conferences, workshops or meetings. Contains speaker notes and links with each slide. A PDF of the presentation, which can be used as a handout, is available here [PDF, 1.5Mb].

“Building a Community-Based SMS System Using FrontlineSMS” [PDF: 385Kb]Anthony Papillon, Advanced Data Concepts Inc.

In mid-2008, I was approached by an Oklahoma based domestic violence agency seeking to better use technology to reach victims and to provide a safer, more reliable, way of reporting, recording, and responding to reports of domestic violence. This brief paper will discuss the technologies we used and the steps we took to develop the system, officially called “FamilyFirst”, and show how any agency can deploy a similar system for very little money.

“Introduction to FrontlineSMS” [PDF: 600Kb]Jim Witkin and kiwanja.net

This double-sided paper provides a short and concise introduction to FrontlineSMS – useful for printing and sharing at workshops, meetings and conferences, or posting online or sharing through email.

“FrontlineSMS – Data Collection without Forms” [PDF: 500Kb]George Mu’ammar, World Food Program

FrontlineSMS provides FrontlineForms, a data entry tool for phones that are Java enabled. Unfortunately, not all mobile phones support Java, and those that do may not be compatible since several Java runtime engines exist for mobile phones. Data can be sent to FrontlineSMS through a standard SMS, but the data is more difficult to structure and validate.
To get round this, a Microsoft Access database system was developed to host the SMS data and to provide the validation. The system is also configured to send an automatic reply to the sender detailing any validation errors, or to confirm that the data has been accepted. FrontlineSMS interfaces with the database through a DOS script which makes use of a number of free software utilities. The database uses SQL instructions and the script interfaces with it using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), making it is easy to port the system onto a different type of database.

“FrontlineSMS in the Philippines” [Video: 5Mb]Lynman Bacalor

A short two minute video by Lynman Bacalor, a medical doctor in the Philippines who uses FrontlineSMS to co-ordinate his rural healthcare clinics.

“FrontlineSMS Guest Posts” [PDF: 3.5Mb]Various authors

A selection of FrontlineSMS Guest Posts from the FrontlineSMS blog. In their own words, users talk about their work, how they apply FrontlineSMS, and the impact it is having. (Document last updated July 2009).

Other websites, links and resources

• RANET User Guide and FrontlineSMS Installation (English, French, Portuguese)
• Syncing FrontlineSMS with the Ushahidi platform
• FrontlineSMS Help files
• Selection of videos, training guides and introductions
• FrontlineSMS entry on Wikipedia
• Mobile Database of articles, projects and reports on the use of mobiles phones in development

If you’ve created any FrontlineSMS resources which you’d like to be included here, please get in touch through the Contact Us page. Thank you! \o/