How to Set Up Exchange 2000/2003 to Forward Text Messages to a Cell Phone

This document explains step-by-step how to set up a forwarding e-mail account with Microsoft Exchange. Furthermore, the document shows how to forward text messages to a cell phone. The instructions include information on the leading US cellular providers, but the procedure will work for any cellular service that provides text messaging via the internet.

Almost all cellular service providers offer users the ability to send and receive text messages. Most cell phones have built-in messaging capabilities that allow users to read and reply to mail.

Cellular companies also allow customers to receive text messages from the internet (via SMTP). Most companies create e-mail accounts for users based on their ten-digit phone numbers. For example, a Sprint user with the cell phone number (650)555-1111 would have the account 6505551111@mobile.mycingular.com. Any e-mail sent to that account would arrive on the user's cell phone.

Sending e-mail to a cell phone is useful, but the e-mail address is neither elegant nor easy to remember. Additionally, as providers modify their service offerings or merge with other companies, the address may change. For example, AT&T Wireless switched its SMTP address domain from number@mobile.att.net to number@mmode.com to market their mMode wireless web service. One solution that addresses these shortcomings is to create a forwarding account in Microsoft Exchange.

Creating a forwarding account will solve several problems while adding value. A forwarding address will hide the cell phone company's e-mail address and replace it with anything@yourcompany.com. This adds a level of sophistication while making it easier for others to remember the e-mail address. Also, if a cellular provider decides to change their address domain (see AT&T example above), e-mail messages will still go to anything@yourcompany.com with just a minor administrative update.

To set up a forwarding account, perform the following steps:

1. On the Exchange Server, run Active Directory Users and Computers
   • In the left pane, expand the domain and highlight Users
   • From the Action Menu, select New and create a new Contact
     • Set the First Name as Page
     • Set the Last Name as the User Name (ex. Jimmy)
     • Set the Display Name as Page User Name (ex. Page Jimmy)
     • Click the Next button
     • Click the Modify button
     • From the list of e-mail address types, select SMTP Address
     • Set the E-Mail Address as the Text Messaging Address for the Cell Phone (ex. 5551113333@mmode.com)
     • Click the Next button
     • Click the Finish button
   • From the Action Menu, select New and create a new User
     • Set the First Name as Page
     • Set the Last Name as the User Name (ex. Jimmy)
     • Set the User Login Name as pageUserName (ex. pageJimmy)
     • Click the Next button
     • Set the password and select account password options
     • Click the Next button
     • Click the Next button (creates an Exchange account)
     • Click the Finish button
   • From the right pane, highlight the newly created user, right-mouse click and select Properties
     • Select the E-mail Addresses tab
     • Click on the New button
     • From the list of e-mail address types, select SMTP Address
     • Set the e-mail address as PageUser@YourDomain.com and click OK (ex. PageJimmy@jimmy.com)
     • Select the Exchange General tab
       • Click the Delivery Options button
       • In the Forwarding Address box, select the radio button Forward to:
       • Click the Modify button
       • In the Enter the object name to select text field, type the Contact Name (ex. Page Jimmy)
       • Click OK to close the Select Recipient dialog box
       • Click OK to close the Delivery Options dialog box
     • Click OK to close the User Properties dialog box

With the new user and contact, all SMTP e-mail sent to the new address will be forwarded to the user's cell phone.