Gmail to SMS - (and any loud, annoying iPad notification method)

[Steven Avery]

Or any email (e.g. Runbox) to SMS.

Preferably an option to just send the Subject line.

Obviously, the sending should be based on a filter (e.g. something in the subject line, or address.)

An account with Twilio (or CloudHQ or RedOxygen or another) is ok, if the price is right.

Also, I would like it to go to my Talkatone account (about 1/2 of SMS recognize such an account, Twilio works fine.)
Or find another method - I can try Skype number - since my normal phone is a clamshell.

The goal is to get the SMS on an iPad.
Even an Android is possible, especially if gives a better alarm.

I will look for more references to place here:

New References Coming Soon
========

POSSIBILITY

Automate.io - has the feature, will the free account work? 250 actions/month
https://automate.io/pricing

"Send an SMS in Twilio on a New Email in Gmail"
https://automate.io/...gration/gmail/twilio

=========

More POSSIBILITIES TO VETTE

Integromat - Free on 1,000, $9month/basic
https://www.integrom.../google-email/twilio

Zapier
https://zapier.com/a.../integrations/twilio



========

RELATED FEATURE BUT NOT AUTO-SEND

CloudHQ has a plugin
https://chrome.googl...hibmialipjeaoobhaofe

They have a free account, maybe it works? 
And one for $10/month, which would be ok, if it does a few good things.

However, it looks to be manual send to SMS, not automated by trigger.

Same with RedOxygen
https://redoxygen.co.../products/gmail-sms/

========

Gmail used to have a native method, like here, but I think it ended in 2014

Send Text Messages from your GMail Account (2012)
https://www.labnol.o...ges-from-gmail/5156/

=========

Apparently Gmail-Twilio-SMS needs some coding action.
https://stackoverflo...essage-to-twilio-sms

=========

EXAMPLES OF USE

In Business, great for new orders.

For car shopping (or any shopping) good for triggers from places like Craigslist.
(One car company, Autotrader, does have SMS alerts.)

=========

[BGM]

We already have Google Voice which you get for free with your google account.  You can adjust the settings so that SMS messages arrive in your email, and you can even use email to reply to them.  I do this all the time.

[c.gingerich]

If you want to send an email as an sms, most cell carriers allow it already. Take a look at this.

https://20somethingf...-via-email-for-free/

[Steven Avery]

And I think the two solutions above are different:

needed
Email Received -- > my-SMS (preferably VOIP Talkatone)

=========

2) Send Email to SMS -

This I could use by a Forward or Redirect method.
However, it likely will not work with a Talkatone or Skype number, since it wants a cell carrier.

It should work if I switch to a SmartPhone (Android or IOS) rather than iPad.
Which is always a possibility.

==========

1) Google Voice - SMS messages arrive in your email, and you can even use email to reply to them. 

However, my starting point is an email received (e.g. Craigslist.)

=========

Talkatone I think uses Google Voice, for me it always seems to be transparent, although this article makes it sound complicated.
https://www.lifewire...pad-as-phone-1994715

[wraith808]

Have you taken a look at IFTTT?  And if you do decide to go that way, instead of using SMS, you might take a look at Pushbullet.  I have something like that set up where I install pushbullet on my phone, and receive the e-mail alerts for my site being down.

[Steven Avery]

This is a promising idea.  Checking it out a bit.

[4wd]

You can use PowerShell to retrieve your Gmail, filter only those you're interested in and then send a push notification.

I use Gotify as a Push server which keeps it all under my control. They only have an Android client though.

https://github.com/gotify/server

I use Bash and PowerShell scripts that call Gotify when they finish a process.

[wraith808]

That looks pretty cool... requires you to run your own server though, which for some people doesn't work.

[4wd]

Addendum: added info for Pushetta notification, (a completely free service).

NOTE: Gotify - Android only client (not likely to be a iOS app due to how app store works)
Pushetta - Android and iOS clients

Original GMail script courtesy the author noted, I've added the few additions for the Gotify notification.  You'd want to loop it, apply your filter, compare last email ID to make sure you're not resending a push notification, and probably tidy it up by putting things in functions, etc but that's all relatively simple.

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. # Name:        get_gmail.ps1
3. # URL:         http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Get-new-gmail-emails-a0aa3db8
4. #
5. # Purpose:     Get new email headers from gmail - read only.
6. #
7. # Usage:       Enter username and password the first time which will be saved.
8. #
9. # Author:      Amir Hanna
10. #
11. # Created:     20/07/2014
12. # Copyright:   Public domain
13. # Version:     2
14. #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.  
16. $script_folder = Split-Path $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path
17. $username_file = ($script_folder + "\user")
18. $pass_file = ($script_folder + "\pass")
19.  
20. if ( !(Test-Path -LiteralPath $username_file -PathType Leaf) -or !(Test-Path -LiteralPath $pass_file -PathType Leaf) ) {
21.   Write-Host "Please type a username: "
22.   Read-Host | Set-Content -LiteralPath $username_file
23.  
24.   Write-Host "Please type a password: "
25.   Read-Host -AsSecureString | ConvertFrom-SecureString > $pass_file
26. }
27.  
28. $username = Get-Content $username_file
29. $pass = Get-Content $pass_file | ConvertTo-SecureString
30.  
31. $credentials = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PsCredential($username, $pass)
32.  
33. $webclient = new-object System.Net.WebClient
34. $webclient.Credentials = $credentials
35.  
36. [xml]$xml= $webclient.DownloadString("https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom")
37.  
38. if (!$xml) { return }
39.  
40. Write-Host -BackgroundColor Red -ForegroundColor White "You have", $xml.feed.fullcount, "new emails."
41.  
42. $format= @{Expression={[string][System.Math]::Round(((get-date) - (Get-Date $_.issued)).TotalHours, 1) + " hours"};`
43.          Label="Received since"; Width=20}, @{Expression={$_.author.name}; Label="From"; Width=20},`
44.          @{Expression={$_.title}; Label="Subject"}, @{Expression={$_.summary}; Label="Summary"}
45.  
46. $xml.feed.entry | format-table $format -wrap
47.  
48.  
49. <# ----------------------------- #>
50. # Added stuff for Gotify/Pushetta Push notification
51.  
52. # Copy the latest XML feed entry to a variable
53. $latestEmail = ($xml.feed.entry | Select-Object -First 1)
54.  
55. <#
56. $xml.feed.entry.author.email
57. $xml.feed.entry.author.name
58. $xml.feed.entry.id
59. $xml.feed.entry.issued
60. $xml.feed.entry.link
61. $xml.feed.entry.modified
62. $xml.feed.entry.summary
63. $xml.feed.entry.title
64. #>
65.  
66. # Info for Gotify, if $GoToken is null then no Push is sent
67. $GoToken = ''   # Token obtained from the Gotify server
68. $GotifyUrl = '' # eg. http://localhost:8080/message
69.  
70. if ($GoToken -ne '') {
71.   $ContentType = "application/json"
72.   $Method = "POST"
73.   $JsonMsg = @{
74.     message = "From: $($latestEmail.author.name), $($latestEmail.author.email)`r`nID: $($latestEmail.id)`r`nIssued: $($latestEmail.issued)`r`nLink: $($latestEmail.link)`r`nModified: $($latestEmail.modified)`r`nSummary: $($latestEmail.summary)`r`nTitle: $($latestEmail.title)";
75.     priority=2;
76.     title="$($model)"
77.   } | ConvertTo-JSON
78.   $Header = @{}
79.   $Header.Add("X-Gotify-Key", $GoToken);
80.   $Header.Add("accept", "application/json");
81.   $t = Invoke-RestMethod -Method $Method -Uri $GotifyUrl -Header $Header -Body $JsonMsg -ContentType $ContentType
82. }
83.  
84.  
85. # Info for Pushetta, if $Token is null then no Push is sent
86. $Token = ''
87. $Channel = ''
88.  
89. if ($Token -ne '') {
90.   $Uri ='http://api.pushetta.com/api/pushes/' + $Channel + '/'
91.   $ContentType = "application/json"
92.   $Method = "POST"
93.   $JsonMsg = @{
94.     body = "From: $($latestEmail.author.name), $($latestEmail.author.email)`r`nID: $($latestEmail.id)`r`nIssued: $($latestEmail.issued)`r`nLink: $($latestEmail.link)`r`nModified: $($latestEmail.modified)`r`nSummary: $($latestEmail.summary)`r`nTitle: $($latestEmail.title)";
95.     message_type ="text/plain"
96.   } | ConvertTo-JSON
97.   $Header = @{}
98.   $Header.Add("AUTHORIZATION", " Token $($Token)")
99.   $t = Invoke-RestMethod -Method $Method -Uri $Uri -Header $Header -Body $JsonMsg -ContentType $ContentType
100. }

The notification you'll end up with from the above, (I've blurred things particular to my server/email).
Gmail to SMS - (and any loud, annoying iPad notification method)

[Steven Avery]

Have you taken a look at IFTTT?  And if you do decide to go that way, instead of using SMS, you might take a look at Pushbullet.  I have something like that set up where I install pushbullet on my phone, and receive the e-mail alerts for my site being down.

-wraith808 (August 22, 2019, 02:11 PM)

Let us look at IFTTT as a source for either:
1) SMS
2) Pushbullet

With the starting point being Gmail or any Server receiving mail. (e.g. Runbox, Fastmail.)

IFTTT seems to indicate that they only have two basic Gmail actions:
https://help.ifttt.c...ut-the-Gmail-service
"Unfortunately, this change means that all Gmail triggers and the Create a draft action will be removed from IFTTT. The Gmail actions Send an email and Send yourself an email will remain intact."

Actually, can't Gmail accomplish the same through filters and forwarding?
(Answer..apparently IFTTT creates an on-demand action, maybe on a web-page, also it can send to 20 people, the multiple sending is a trick not easy in the Gmail filters)

At times they go back to the method that needs a smartphone, since an email received at a special carrier's email address converts to SMS.

https://ifttt.com/ap...-you-re-heading-home
. A nifty trick with this Applet: Most carriers have a way to send a text message to someone by emailing a specific email address, which you can use to send them an SMS instead of an email using this same Applet!

My goal is to receive my email on my Talkatone SMS number (which Twilio sents to properly).  I am not a big fan of smartphones, I use a clam-shell, for which the text function is rinky-dink.  I will think of getting a SmartPhone.

Do you have more information on using IFTTT in its current state?

Wait .. it would be Gmail to Pushbullet.

So let's see first if Pushbullet can be triggered by an email.

Also, note that, for simplicity, it would be fairly easy to create a special email box (Gmail, Fastmail, Runbox)  that receives redirected mail that is meant to trigger the SMS or Pushbullet or whatever.  That would provide an easy archive and check spot.

Interesting studies.

[Steven Avery]

So far, the Gmail to Pushbullet idea looks like the best, using Zapier.
 

[x16wda]

So the idea is to get a notification on an ipad when you receive a specific email in gmail on a different machine? Is there a reason why you can't just forward the email to the ipad's email acct as high priority, and turn on appropriate notifications? (like this) Just seems like a lot of plumbing. (Not an Apple user here, maybe the notifications just don't work that well.)

[Steven Avery]

So the idea is to get a notification on an ipad when you receive a specific email in gmail on a different machine? Is there a reason why you can't just forward the email to the ipad's email acct as high priority, and turn on appropriate notifications? (like this) Just seems like a lot of plumbing. (Not an Apple user here, maybe the notifications just don't work that well.)

-x16wda (August 24, 2019, 09:44 AM)

Correct on what I want to accomplish.

Gmail "Notifications" tend to be cheezy.  Little pop-ups that fade away, make no noise or little beeps, and do not even keep an easy-check history.  This is true on both PC and iPad. 

Maybe I missed something but one time I did take a look. 

My SMS/MMS section from Talkatone is far more robust, it does give a general system msg, the history is right there of all the messages  sending person by person, can included pic (not needed though for this app).  They could be louder, I am writing them about the nature of sound.

Pushbullet I am checking now.

Examples of people who need robust reception, and I should ask these types:

1) A developer supporting a web-site
2) A store-manager watching for automatic orders

Note that these should be all night, unless e.g. there is specified quiet times.

[wraith808]

1) A developer supporting a web-site

-Steven Avery (August 24, 2019, 12:15 PM)

That's what I use it for.  I can't access my work e-mail unless I'm on the VPN (stupid work rules), so I fire a rule whenever certain e-mails hit my inbox to forward it to my personal mail, that then notifies me by pushbullet.  It works well.

[Steven Avery]

1) A developer supporting a web-site

-Steven Avery (August 24, 2019, 12:15 PM)

That's what I use it for.  I can't access my work e-mail unless I'm on the VPN (stupid work rules), so I fire a rule whenever certain e-mails hit my inbox to forward it to my personal mail, that then notifies me by pushbullet.  It works well.

-wraith808 (August 24, 2019, 08:14 PM)

Can you get Pushbullet to be noisy and irritating?

My example is Alarmy. In fact, I am even thinking about using a macro to cause a new Alarmy event. 

Skype calls seem to be loud, as they have good access to the Microsoft API, since they are Microsoft.

Simply a little notification ping is helpful, but not really sufficient.

[wraith808]

I never looked to see if it could do anything past a notification.  A quick look, and it doesn't appear as if that's possible.

[Steven Avery]

I never looked to see if it could do anything past a notification.  A quick look, and it doesn't appear as if that's possible.

-wraith808 (August 26, 2019, 11:31 AM)

Yep. Seems that way with Pushbullet.

Next I will check Pushover, that was recommended by one fellow on a group on Facebook "WooCommerce Help and Share".
Here Pushover discusses some sound issues.
https://pushover.net/faq#problem-sound

I checked with my developer, who does give 24/7 support, and he works a combo of little rings and notifications, email, SMS, whatever, but nothing real solid, he says he is a light sleeper.

[Steven Avery]

Now I am looking at call forwarding (and text forwarding.)

E.g.  I was thinking of going paid with Talkatone - $4 a month.
That opens up forwarding, and It would be nice if I can call Skype or flip-phone, which ringggggg.
(it seems to be only SMS-->SMS and Voice-->Voice)

Also I want to see if Twilio has a phone call, rather than text, mode.
(Already using Twilio in biz to send out SMS.)

I also plan Android testing, maybe using Tasker. 
The architecture is more open for ringing, and in the house it can run off the cable wireless with a cheap leftover tablet. 

=======================

This explains the idea.

Voice SMS – text to phone call
https://tellustalk.w...-text-to-phone-call/
Very smart if you for example have an alarm system that would send SMS to people that are on call sleeping. The tiny little signal from an SMS you could easily sleep through, but a call will keep ringing until you pick the phone up! It could be smart to combine it with an SMS too, to make it easier to read it again later, when you´re up…