Message Gateway for Inmates

  • I am in the process of setting up a WordPress based mobile website that allows family and friends of inmates to send messages & pics to prisoners for a fee(cover costs). I need as much help and advice as I can get about which plugins may help achieve this.

    The workflow process can be described as follows:
    1. User registers using mobile number as username
    2. User buys message credits at 7 Eleven store
    3. User Account is updated with credit
    4. User sends message
    5. User account is debited
    6. Messages are printed and distributed in prison

    The most challenging aspects are to find a way to “connect” with 7 Eleven Counter Service and get the sale of credits to update User Accounts. Then there needs to be a way to limit messaging and deduct credits from the User Account for each message.

    Any help will really appreciated.
    Chuck,
    Thailand

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Moderator bcworkz

    (@bcworkz)

    There is probably some sort of group membership plugin you could leverage into only allowing group members to see messages posted within the group. As you observed, connecting to 7-Eleven data is the crux of the problem. They need to offer some sort of API where you can check user credit balance and deduct credits. Without such an API, the scheme will likely not be feasible.

    The first thing you should do is determine if such an API is available and obtain its developer documentation if so. Verify you can get and deduct credits through it. Without that, you probably need a different message credit scheme.

    Thread Starter Charles

    (@correctshop)

    Hi,
    Thanks for the feedback.
    The problem is that 7 Eleven here in Thailand have not developed an API for their Counter Service payments and are looking to me to write one in order to make use of their service. It’s not so much a question of them not wanting to, but they clearly don’t have the resources/skills with regards to writing an API that would interact with Woocommerce’s MySQL data. I’m prepared to put in the effort and the time to learn whatever skills are needed to get the API written, but I’m finding it so hard to understand where I should start. So, naturally I would be very happy if I could find an out of the box solution that can be customized.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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