Sending SMS Using Angular PWA: A Quick Guide

In this digital age, communication has become faster and more convenient than ever. If you’re developing a Progressive Web App (PWA) with Angular and want to enable your users to send SMS messages directly from your app, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of opening the native messaging app for SMS using Angular PWA.

The SMS URL Scheme

To open the native messaging app for sending an SMS, we’ll utilize the sms: URL scheme. This scheme allows you to create a URL that triggers the device’s default SMS app, with a predefined recipient and message body.

Implementation Steps

Let’s dive into the implementation details:

1. Create a Button Component Start by creating a button component in your Angular app. This button will serve as the trigger for sending the SMS.

   import { Component } from '@angular/core';

   @Component({
     selector: 'app-sms-button',
     template: '<button (click)="sendSMS()">Send SMS</button>',
   })
   export class SmsButtonComponent {
     sendSMS() {
       // Code to open the native messaging app
     }
   }

2. Generate SMS URL Inside the sendSMS() function, you’ll generate the SMS URL using the recipient’s phone number and message. Replace '1234567890' with the desired recipient’s phone number and 'Hello, this is a test message.' with your preferred message.

   sendSMS() {
     const phoneNumber = '1234567890';
     const message = 'Hello, this is a test message.';

     const smsUrl = `sms:${phoneNumber}?body=${encodeURIComponent(message)}`;
     window.location.href = smsUrl;
   }

3. Include the Component Declare the SmsButtonComponent in your module declarations.
4. Add the Button to Your Template Place the app-sms-button selector in your HTML template where you want the “Send SMS” button to appear.

   <app-sms-button></app-sms-button>

A Few Considerations

• Device and OS Compatibility: Keep in mind that the behavior of opening the native messaging app using the sms: scheme may vary depending on the user’s device and operating system.
• PWA Limitations: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) have limitations in accessing certain native functionalities. The success of opening the messaging app may depend on the user’s device and browser.

Conclusion

Enabling your users to send SMS messages directly from your Angular PWA adds a valuable and convenient feature to your application. By utilizing the sms: URL scheme, you can seamlessly integrate this functionality into your app and enhance user communication.

Give it a try, and empower your users with the ability to send SMS messages right from your Angular PWA!