Using AT commands, you can control a GSM using a microcontroller, e.g. an arduino. It is possible to send a SMS with status update or perform a certain action when a SMS is received.
There are 2 possibilities to add a GSM to your project, in both cases the UART of the microcontroller is used for communication.
- Use a mobile phone with a data cable. A serial (rs232) cable is preferred above an USB-cable. The Mobile phone must support AT commands. E.g. Siemens telephones can be used. Most Nokia phones does not support AT commands (Nokia uses the FBUS protocol).
- Buy a GSM board. At Ebay, they can be bought from 30-100 euro’s. Webshops selling arduino shields often sell a gsm-boards as well.
This website contains:
- Information about AT commands
- Connect a Siemens M35i GSM to a arduino using a serial data cable
- Connect a TC35 GSM board to an arduino
- Links to related projects/more information.