using sms forms between two laptops?

[Ferdinand Strobel]

I may ask a stupid question but hey here I go: is it possible to use the forms application between two laptop units equipped with GSM modems. For example in a set up where you have  a field office that receives forms (data) from mobile phones in the field, compile them and do quality check and then needs to send a summary report to the head office? Thanks for any tips. Ferdinand

[Florence Scialom]

Hi Ferdinand,

Thanks for getting in touch. You can set-up two FrontlineSMS hubs in different locations, and receive FrontlineForms messages into them both directly if needed. You can also export data from one installation of FrontlineSMS to forward onto others in .csv format (e.g. to share data with Head office). However, you cannot synch the data of two FrontlineSMS installations together remotely/ automatically.

I hope this is helpful, but I am not sure if this directly answers your question? If you need further information please do feel free to ask. It would be great to hear more about the ways you would ideally like this set-up to work and how you plan to use it, to help with providing further information.

Thanks

Florence

[Ferdinand Strobel]

Thanks Florence this is helpful. I happened to learn that the field offices actually do not have computers so the setup will just be phones in the field and one single computer in the head office.

I have managed to get the forms application working fine using Nokia 2730 and Nokia 2330 after downloading it directly into the phones.

I am now trying to install the application into phones that cannot connect to the internet? I struggle a bit. When you download the java programme into the laptop it is a bunch of zip files and I don't know what to do with them and how to get them into the phones. Any practical advice on this would be welcome.

With many thanks and best regards

Ferdinand (Suva, Fiji)

[Florence Scialom]

Hi Ferdinand,

Glad to hear that information was helpful.

With Forms - you can download the files from http://www.frontlinesms.com/forms and once you have unzipped them you should hopefully see the files you need to upload to your phone. To upload, you need the handset manager software for the phone you are using and a USB cable (there is a list of compatible devices are on the Forms page of our site. The Nokia 2730 is not listed as having been tested so may not work, but the Nokia 2330 should work fine). Instructions on how to install the device software needed should be available by searching online.

This is actually an advanced way of installing the Forms client - the easiest and quickest way is to install it is, if possible, by pointing the phone's browser to the files on our server, as detailed on our Forms page here:http://www.frontlinesms.com/resources/frontlineforms/. If you are able to try this latter option it should prove easier.

Let me know how you get on / if you have further questions. I haven't tested Forms that much myself, but if you need further assistance I'll be happy to ask our developer team to see if they're able to help too.

Thanks

Flo