How to send an SMS from Debian command line?

Question

I have a 4G wwan modem (Fibocom L850GL) with a valid SIM card on a Debian PC. I have modem-manager-gui and I can send SMS with it.

How can I do the same from the command line?

I have tried with mmcli v1.10.0 but I have

dka@dka:[~]: mmcli -m 0 --messaging-create-sms="text='Hello world',number='+33692822789'"
Successfully created new SMS: /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SMS/0
dka@dka:[~]: mmcli -s 0 --send -v
[28 Nov 2019, 03:46:12] [Debug] Assuming '0' is the SMS index
[28 Nov 2019, 03:46:12] [Debug] ModemManager process found at ':1.8'
[28 Nov 2019, 03:46:12] [Debug] Sms found at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SMS/0'

error: couldn't send the SMS: 'GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.libmbim.Error.Status.Failure: Couldn't send SMS part: Failure'

I just did with mmcli -G DEBUG as stated in mmcli documentation, this is the log:


Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message...#012>>>>>> RAW:#012>>>>>>   length = 52#012>>>>>>   data   = 07:00:00:80:34:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:53:3F:BE:EB:14:FE:44:67:9F:90:33:A2:23:E5:6C:3F:05:00:00:00:08:00:00:00:02:00:00:00:01:00:00:00
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message (translated)...#012>>>>>> Header:#012>>>>>>   length      = 52#012>>>>>>   type        = indicate-status (0x80000007)#012>>>>>>   transaction = 0#012>>>>>> Fragment header:#012>>>>>>   total   = 1#012>>>>>>   current = 0#012>>>>>> Contents:#012>>>>>>   service = 'sms' (533fbeeb-14fe-4467-9f90-33a223e56c3f)#012>>>>>>   cid     = 'message-store-status' (0x00000005)#012>>>>>> Fields:#012>>>>>>   Flag = 'new-message'#012>>>>>>   MessageIndex = '1'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Received notification (service 'sms', command 'message-store-status')
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Received SMS store status update: 'new-message'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Reading new SMS at index '1'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Sent message...#012<<<<<< RAW:#012<<<<<<   length = 60#012<<<<<<   data   = 03:00:00:00:3C:00:00:00:32:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:53:3F:BE:EB:14:FE:44:67:9F:90:33:A2:23:E5:6C:3F:02:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:0C:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:01:00:00:00
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Sent message (translated)...#012<<<<<< Header:#012<<<<<<   length      = 60#012<<<<<<   type        = command (0x00000003)#012<<<<<<   transaction = 50#012<<<<<< Fragment header:#012<<<<<<   total   = 1#012<<<<<<   current = 0#012<<<<<< Contents:#012<<<<<<   service = 'sms' (533fbeeb-14fe-4467-9f90-33a223e56c3f)#012<<<<<<   cid     = 'read' (0x00000002)#012<<<<<<   type    = 'query' (0x00000000)#012<<<<<< Fields:#012<<<<<<   Format = 'pdu'#012<<<<<<   Flag = 'index'#012<<<<<<   MessageIndex = '1'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message...#012>>>>>> RAW:#012>>>>>>   length = 112#012>>>>>>   data   = 03:00:00:80:70:00:00:00:32:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:53:3F:BE:EB:14:FE:44:67:9F:90:33:A2:23:E5:6C:3F:02:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:40:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:10:00:00:00:30:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:10:00:00:00:20:00:00:00:07:91:33:96:05:00:56:F4:20:0B:91:33:96:85:62:87:F9:00:00:91:21:10:61:33:81:40:05:F4:F2:9C:2E:03
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message (translated)...#012>>>>>> Header:#012>>>>>>   length      = 112#012>>>>>>   type        = command-done (0x80000003)#012>>>>>>   transaction = 50#012>>>>>> Fragment header:#012>>>>>>   total   = 1#012>>>>>>   current = 0#012>>>>>> Contents:#012>>>>>>   status error = 'None' (0x00000000)#012>>>>>>   service      = 'sms' (533fbeeb-14fe-4467-9f90-33a223e56c3f)#012>>>>>>   cid          = 'read' (0x00000002)#012>>>>>> Fields:#012>>>>>>   Format = '0'#012>>>>>>   MessagesCount = '1'#012>>>>>>   PduMessages = '{#012>>>>>>     [0] = {#012>>>>>>           MessageIndex = '1'#012>>>>>>           MessageStatus = '0'#012>>>>>>           PduData = '07:91:33:96:05:00:56:f4:20:0b:91:33:96:85:62:87:f9:00:00:91:21:10:61:33:81:40:05:f4:f2:9c:2e:03'#012>>>>>>     },#012>>>>>>   }'#012>>>>>>   CdmaMessages = 
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Parsing PDU (1)...
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   SMSC address parsed: '+3369500****'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   Deliver type PDU detected
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   Number parsed: '+336********'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   PID: 0
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   user data encoding is GSM7
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   user data length: 5 elements
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>   user data length: 5 bytes
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Decoding SMS text with '5' elements
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Converting SMS part text from GSM-7 to UTF-8...
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug>    Got UTF-8 text: 'test2'
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Correctly parsed PDU (1)
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> SMS part at 'mt/1' is from a singlepart SMS
Dec  1 16:33:19 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Added received SMS at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SMS/3'



Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> (ttyACM2): <-- '<CR><LF><CR><LF>$GPGGA,153320.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*4E<CR><LF>$GNGGA,153320.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*50<CR><LF>$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*1E<CR><LF>$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1*1D<CR><LF>$GPGSV,1,1,01,15,,,30,1*62<CR><LF>$GPRMC,153320.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*3B<CR><LF>$GNRMC,153320.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*25<CR><LF>$GPVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*2C<CR><LF>$GNVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*32<CR><LF><CR><LF><CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>'
Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Sent message...#012<<<<<< RAW:#012<<<<<<   length = 56#012<<<<<<   data   = 03:00:00:00:38:00:00:00:33:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:53:3F:BE:EB:14:FE:44:67:9F:90:33:A2:23:E5:6C:3F:04:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:08:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:01:00:00:00
Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Sent message (translated)...#012<<<<<< Header:#012<<<<<<   length      = 56#012<<<<<<   type        = command (0x00000003)#012<<<<<<   transaction = 51#012<<<<<< Fragment header:#012<<<<<<   total   = 1#012<<<<<<   current = 0#012<<<<<< Contents:#012<<<<<<   service = 'sms' (533fbeeb-14fe-4467-9f90-33a223e56c3f)#012<<<<<<   cid     = 'delete' (0x00000004)#012<<<<<<   type    = 'set' (0x00000001)#012<<<<<< Fields:#012<<<<<<   Flag = 'index'#012<<<<<<   MessageIndex = '1'
Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message...#012>>>>>> RAW:#012>>>>>>   length = 48#012>>>>>>   data   = 03:00:00:80:30:00:00:00:33:00:00:00:01:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:53:3F:BE:EB:14:FE:44:67:9F:90:33:A2:23:E5:6C:3F:04:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: [/dev/cdc-wdm0] Received message (translated)...#012>>>>>> Header:#012>>>>>>   length      = 48#012>>>>>>   type        = command-done (0x80000003)#012>>>>>>   transaction = 51#012>>>>>> Fragment header:#012>>>>>>   total   = 1#012>>>>>>   current = 0#012>>>>>> Contents:#012>>>>>>   status error = 'None' (0x00000000)#012>>>>>>   service      = 'sms' (533fbeeb-14fe-4467-9f90-33a223e56c3f)#012>>>>>>   cid          = 'delete' (0x00000004)
Dec  1 16:33:20 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> Deleted SMS at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SMS/3'
Dec  1 16:33:21 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> (ttyACM2): <-- '<CR><LF><CR><LF>$GPGGA,153321.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*4F<CR><LF>$GNGGA,153321.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*51<CR><LF>$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*1E<CR><LF>$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1*1D<CR><LF>$GPGSV,1,1,01,15,,,30,1*62<CR><LF>$GPRMC,153321.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*3A<CR><LF>$GNRMC,153321.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*24<CR><LF>$GPVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*2C<CR><LF>$GNVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*32<CR><LF><CR><LF><CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>'
Dec  1 16:33:22 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> (ttyACM2): <-- '<CR><LF><CR><LF>$GPGGA,153322.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*4C<CR><LF>$GNGGA,153322.000,,,,,0,0,,,M,,M,,*52<CR><LF>$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*1E<CR><LF>$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1*1D<CR><LF>$GPGSV,1,1,01,15,,,31,1*63<CR><LF>$GPRMC,153322.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*39<CR><LF>$GNRMC,153322.000,V,,,,,,,011219,,,N,V*27<CR><LF>$GPVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*2C<CR><LF>$GNVTG,,T,,M,,N,,K,N*32<CR><LF><CR><LF><CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>'
Dec  1 16:33:23 dka ModemManager[843]: <debug> (ttyACM2): <-- '<CR><LF><CR><LF>$GPGGA,15332

It says : that the command is message-store-status, how can I see the mmcli command?

Related issue:

K7AAY · Answer 1 · 2019-11-27T22:05:26.100

1. The simplest way is to send a plaintext email of no more than 160 characters from a CLI mail app to the SMS gateway for the addressee's phone provider. For the US carriers, you put your ten digit mobile number in front of:

Aio Wireless            @mms.aiowireless.net
AirFire Mobile          @sms.airfiremobile.com
Alaska Communications   @msg.acsalaska.com
Alltel (Allied Wirels)  @mms.alltelwireless.com
Ameritech               @paging.acswireless.com
Assurance Wireless      @vmobl.com
AT&T Enterprise Paging  @page.att.net
AT&T Mobility           @mms.att.net
BellSouth               @bellsouth.cl
Bluegrass Cellular      @mms.myblueworks.com
Bluesky Comm (Samoa)    @psms.bluesky.as
Boost mobile            @myboostmobile.com
C Spire Wireless        @cspire1.com
CellCom                 @cellcom.quiktxt.com
Cellular South          @csouth1.com
Centennial Wireless     @cwemail.com
Chariton Valley Wirels  @sms.cvalley.net
Chat Mobility           @mail.msgsender.com
Cincinnati Bell         @mms.gocbw.com
Cleartalk               @sms.cleartalk.us
Cricket                 @mms.mycricket.com
DTC                     @sms.advantagecell.net
Edge Wireless           @sms.edgewireless.com
Element Mobile          @SMS.elementmobile.net
General Comms., Inc.    @mobile.gci.net
Golden State Cellular   @gscsms.com
Greatcall               @vtxt.com
Hawaiian Telcom         @hawaii.sprintpcs.com
I-wireless(Sprint PCS)  @iwirelesshometext.com
I-wireless(T-Mobile)    .iws@iwspcs.net
Kajeet                  @mobile.kajeet.net
LongLines               @text.longlines.com
MetroPCS                @mymetropcs.com
Nextech                 @sms.ntwls.net
Page Plus (Verizon)     @vzwpix.com
Pioneer Cellular        @zsend.com
Pocket Wireless         @sms.pocket.com
Qwest Wireless          @qwestmp.com
Red Pocket Mobile       @vtext.com
Rogers Wireless         @mms.rogers.com
Simple Mobile           @smtext.com
South Central Comms     @rinasms.com
Southernlinc            @page.southernlinc.com
Sprint                  @pm.sprint.com
Straight Talk ATT:      @mms.att.net
Straight Talk Other:    @mmst5.tracfone.com
Straight Talk Sprint:   @tracfone.plspictures.com
Straight Talk T-Mobile: @tmomail.net
Straight Talk Verizon:  @vzwpix.com
Syringa Wireless        @rinasms.com
Teleflip                @teleflip.com
Telus Mobility          @mms.telusmobility.com
Ting                    @message.ting.com
T-Mobile                @tmomail.net
TracFone (prepaid)      @mmst5.tracfone.com
Unicel                  @utext.com
Union Wireless          @union-tel.com
US Cellular             @mms.uscc.net
USA Mobility            @usamobility.net
Verizon Wireless        @vzwpix.com
Viaero                  @mmsviaero.com
Virgin Mobile           @vmpix.com
Voyager Mobile          @text.voyagermobile.com
West Central Wirels     @sms.wcc.net
XIT Communications      @sms.xit.net

https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17056/~/list-of-mobile-carrier-gateway-addresses lists other nations' carriers.

If you can't find the gateway address for the addressee's provider, you can do a lookup at https://freecarrierlookup.com .

If you do not have a text based email app (such as sup, mutt, notmuch, alpine, or aerc), see this article on how to send with curl.

2. The TextMagic API also provides access to SMS from your commend line.

3. Other methods are described here.

4. You can use AT commands to send a message following the specifications in this document.

My carrier is not in the list. FREE MOBILE. can't I do like a normal user using just the cell phone ? — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 27 '19 at 21:45
I have checked all of them and none of them help me send a SMS using a phone number from command line just using my WWAN card. — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 27 '19 at 21:56
I want to try with the carrier destination address FREE MOBILE and I can't find it. Why the hell do I need that, I want to send using the phone number, just as in modem manager gui! It's like if you can now what number is what carrier, it's just too much pain while I want to have the same user experience as a GSM user sending an SMS — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 27 '19 at 22:01
Have you heard about `gammu` I am fighting to get it read into my device — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 27 '19 at 22:08
Did https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=wammu work for you? — K7AAY, Nov 27 '19 at 22:11
Suggest you call for FREE MOBILE technical and commercial assistance to ask for the address of their email->SMS gateway: 32 44 from a mobile phone or +33 1 78 56 95 60 — K7AAY, Nov 27 '19 at 22:13
I will not call FREE MOBILE because I can't call evey technical assistance in the world for every of my receiver. I want to use it as a normal caller.... https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=gammu , but I keep having issue with permissions when trying to use it : `gammu info` => `Can not open specified file.` — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 27 '19 at 22:15
@DimitriKopriwa Look at this Stack Overflow answer. https://stackoverflow.com/q/40363564 — Giacomo1968, Nov 28 '19 at 03:45
I have opened an issue on modem-manager because mmcli fail to send sms. Gammu can't communicate with device it says it seems disconnected. I have not found yet... — Dimitri Kopriwa, Nov 28 '19 at 04:14

How to send an SMS from Debian command line?

1 Answers1