Today I have implemented the SMS gateway Clickatell into the FetchMerchant system. Now fetchmerchant stores have the ability to receive SMS (text) messages on their mobile phones when orders are processed on their store. It shows the name of the person, order number as well as the total amount charged.

I am not sure how I will handle the billing of the SMS service. I am thinking of making it a monthly upgrade cost, or making it a “per credit” cost. Who knows.

For the past several years I have always used a prepaid cellphone. Specifically BoostMobile as it had some decent rates. When they made some changes that I did not agree with such as no longer letting you know when you were getting low on minutes, I decided that it was time to change. I had planned on getting the iPhone but this prompted me to do so sooner than later.

Since I got my phone (back in February) I have been talking on it more and more compared to when I had prepaid. This month figuring out the difference it was actually cheaper for me to have my AT&T plan that it would have been had I still used BoostMobile. We are talking straight talk time not including text messaging or internet. I am not a fan of text messaging but I have started using it here and there.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

So this past 10 days I was up in Grayling for Anual Training phase 2. I tell you what. This is probably the best time I have had since getting out of Basic/AIT. I played on AFATDS a shit ton and it including shooting LIVE high explosive and illumination rounds. I didn’t get to see them from where I was at but I hit the “RED” button to send them down to the units.

I also busted my ass a lot. I volunteered to get on AFATDS when people were going to sleep yet we were still shooting missions. If I wasn’t doing anything important I made sure the guys doing RTO were not on it for a super long time. Most of my days were from 0400 – 0130 (4am – 1am (the next day)). A few of those days I was forced out of our TOC (tactical operations center) to go get some sleep and give someone else a turn.

Wednesday I went down to the gun line of Charlie battery and watched the FDC (same as me) do their jobs when a fire mission came down. This was a first time I had seen real live action of a battery unit processing missions. When I do it, it is at battalion level and there is less stuff to do and manage. While I was down there I got to see the howitzers shoot. OH MY GOD! It was awesome. Going off topic for a second. I watch fireworks to feel the boom and intensity. I don’t know if I will like a fireworks show ever again. The blasts were intensive and great.

Last but not least. From working so hard and people actually noticing it, I got an Army Achievement Medal. One day I will scan the certificate and maybe take a picture of the medal. I am way to tired to do it today.

Those of you with my AIM/MSN etc. may have noticed I have not been at my computer quite a bit lately. The truth is I have been having fun. No not that hardcore programming fun. Its been actual go out and hang out with friends and live a life. As crazy as it seems, it is completely true. This weekend I was on my computer maybe 3 hours from Friday (after work) -> Monday morning.

Hopefully it will continue as I love it.

I got a logo for FetchMerchant designed yesterday. It looks nice and I like it a lot. You can see it over at FetchMerchant.com

I plan on completing and launching the service sometime this year. Hopefully sooner than later. A lot of the features are under wraps and this will be the only service with an all in one feature set.

It was designed by deonya.com. This guy does some really nice work. This is the designer I am planning on having do all the FetchMerchant work.