ColdFusion event gateways are ColdFusion elements that let ColdFusion react to or generate external events or messages in an asynchronous manner. Event gateways let a ColdFusion application handle information that does not come through an HTTP request. For example, you can use event gateways to handle instant messages, short messages from mobile devices, or messages sent to a TCP/IP port.
ColdFusion includes several event gateways, including an SMS (Short Message Service) gateway for sending short, often text, messages to and from wireless devices, such as mobile phones or pagers and a gateway for the XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) instant messaging protocol.