I'm not especially good with mobile technology, but I've programmed something similar on one point...
2) I've built a contact form in C# and there was a lot of "marshalling" to set things up with the server to write and then send out the email. So it doesn't really surprise me that you have to do a fair amount of work just to send the message. However, if you can build your "sender" as a class and then send messages through it, you will have built exactly what you're looking for and you'll never have to do it again.
Also, I would imagine it is highly dependent on the technology of the cell phone company that is sending the messages. There is not a lot of standards in the telecom industry which is one of the reason what you're doing is so difficult.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
-------------------------
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.
-Johann von Goethe
When Two Hearts Race... Both Win.
-Dove Chocolate Wrapper
Chroniclemaster1, Founder of
www.EarthChronicle.com
A Growing History of our Planet, by our Planet, for our Planet.