Send Push Notifications

Use the Create Simple Push Notifications option in the Mobile & Tablet Manager to compile and send simple notification messages to users. Notifications are useful for sending out messages quickly to app users. Messages can be sent to inform all app users of an emergency or to an individual mobile app user, such as a parent about a sick child:

Click here to see notifications on an Android phone.

Click here to see notifications on an iOS iPad.

To compile a push notification:

1. Either:
   
   • Open the iSAMS Control Panel and select the Mobile & Tablet Manager applet.
     or
   • Select Mobile & Tablet Manager from the module bar if the applet has been configured to display here.

2. Open the Notifications tab and select Create Simple Push Notifications from the right hand menu:
   

3. Use the drop down menus in the right of the Message section to select features for the message notification:
   
   • Send Type. Only 'Broadcast' notifications can be sent at present.
   • Template. Select an existing template to save time.
   • Author Fields. Select merge fields to add to your message.
   • Recipient Fields. This function is not currently available. 
4. Compile the message in the free text Message field. Moving the merge fields as required.

5. Use the App Selection radio buttons in the top of the Platforms and Recipients section to select the mobiles apps you want to send the message through:

   Radio button	Use to select...
   All Apps	The message to be sent via all mobile apps. This is useful for sending out an emergency notification.
   Single App	A single mobile app that you want to send the message through. Select the app from the drop down list displayed.

6. Use the Audience Selection radio buttons in the bottom of the Platforms and Recipients section to select the audience who are to receive the message:

   Radio button	Use to select...
   Broadcast	The message to be sent to all devices registered for the app selected in App Selection.
   Devices by Channel or Segment	The message to be sent via selected channels in the selected app. Select the channel/s from the drop down list. App users only receive the message if they have subscribed to the selected channel/s and have access to the app selected in App Selection.
   Single Device	The message to be sent to a single device. Select the device from the drop down list. App users only receive the message if they have access to the app selected in App Selection.

7. Expand the Optional Settings section and set the display and sound options for the message:

   Device Option	Use to select...
   Badge	How the new notification is displayed on app icons in mobile devices. For example, if a new iParent notification is sent to an iPhone then a '1' is displayed next to the iParent app icon (in the same way that a new email notification would display on an iPhone). This option only operates as expected in iOS and is not yet available for Android. Click here to see an example.
   Sound	For a sound to be used to notify users that a new notification has been received on their device.
   Vibrate	For a vibration to be used to notify users that a new notification has been received on their device.

8. Click Send Push Notification.
   The Run Process screen is displayed to confirm that the message has been sent.

    Notifications waiting to be authorised are listed as Queued.

   The message is displayed in the mobile app user's device:
   
   A log is kept in Notification Messages.