In what can only be described as a brutally simple yet complex exercise, 'ray74' has documented his method of sending SMS text messages from a mobile phone controlled by an Arduino. Instead of using the typical GSM shield, they've simple taken apart an inexpensive mobile phone and hard-wired the buttons back to a lot of reed relays, which are controlled by the Arduino's digital I/O via 74HC374s. Then the Arduino can control the phone just like a person, as you program the sequence of button presses into the sketch. The creators have also removed the phone LCD and mounted it for more convenient viewing:
So next time you see a prepaid phone for $19 at the supermarket, this could be an interesting project to replicate. For more information click here. And for more, we're on twitter and Google+, so follow us for news and product updates as well.
If this sort of project intrigues you and you're new to Arduino, the first step is a solid board for your projects - our Freetronics Eleven - the Arduino-Uno compatible with low-profile USB socket, onboard prototyping space and easy to view LEDs: