multiTXT is a paid service by One NZ which makes sending messages to staff, students, and stakeholders simple and cost effective.
Your email address is added to a group to allow you to use the email-to-text functionality. Your group administrator/contact person manages the username and password for web access to multiTXT. You will receive an email with access and usage information once your multiTXT account has been set up and is ready to use, and training is available and included in the cost.
Please complete the multiTXT Group Request online form if you need a new multiTXT group set up.
multiTXT Group Request
One NZ multiTXT online portal
Using multiTXT
The multiTXT service costs are:
- $10 per month per group
- $0.08 for each text message sent (for example, if you send a group text to six recipients, you would be charged six lots of $0.08)
Identifying yourself with multiTXT
You should always include your name and contact number in the subject line or at the top of any text message sent via multiTXT to identify yourself, as this will not necessarily be obvious to the receiver.
If you usually use a default email signature, this will be included in your text message sent via multiTXT. If this takes up too many of your 160 multiTXT character limit, you should:
- Create a shortened version to use for your multiTXT emails
- Disable it for multiTXT emails
- Use "-- " (two hyphens together and a space) as the first line of your signature. The system will automatically disregard everything below this when sending a multiTXT text message
Received multiTXT messages
You can use your email's "read receipt" option to confirm that the message you've sent via multiTXT has been received. In Outlook, the Request a Read Receipt checkbox can be found under Options when you send a message.
Size limits
Text messages sent by email using the multiTXT service will display the same 160 characters as standard mobile text messages by default. Any messages with over 160 characters will be cut off.
The 160-character limit can be increased by your multiTXT group administrator to 459 characters if required. While each message part of 160 characters is treated as one SMS and will be billed as such, the recipient will generally receive and see them all as one long message (although this depends on the recipient's carrier and mobile device type).
Copies of multiTXT messages
A record of the text messages you have sent with multiTXT is available:
- As a copy in your email Sent box
- By request from your multiTXT group administrator
- With your monthly account from One NZ
Please contact AskOtago to see if a multiTXT group already exists for your area:
Freephone 0800 80 80 98
Tel +64 3 479 7000
Submit an enquiry or live chat with us
Sending messages from a database
You can set up the option of sending multiTXT messages from within a database or other application.
Please see the One NZ multiTXT SMS API instructions to find out more about how to do this:
Registering for multiTXT
To register for multiTXT, contact AskOtago:
Freephone 0800 80 80 98
Tel +64 3 479 7000
Submit an enquiry or live chat with us
You will need to provide a:
- Contact name and email address
- Name of existing multiTXT group
- Username for setting up your multiTXT account
Further information
Using multiTXT
One NZ multiTXT Support
multiTXT creation or access requests are assigned to the One NZ queue in CRSM.
Requests for access to an existing multiTXT group
- The request needs to come from the group admin/departmental contact, and needs to specify the group the person needs to be added to. The person's email address is needed to enable access. Any requests for access from students should be directed back to their department.
- What type of access is wanted:
- Email to SMS – the ability to use their email account to send a text message.
- Web access – the ability to use the web app to send a text message and see replies to those (Basic access) or (additionally) to be able to see messages sent from all those their multiTXT group and run reports (Advanced access). The latter access is what the group’s administrator(s)/contact people normally have.
Someone can have both types of access if appropriate.
Requests for changes to account codes for multiTXT groups should be assigned to ITS Application Support via CRSM.