Powerful Text Message API

Automation is a fabulous thing.

It allows you to free up time and bandwidth.

It saves hassle and headspace - because I’m sure you can relate to having too much going on in your life and too many thoughts and concerns running around inside your brain!

That’s why if you’re looking for an SMS platform to send mass texts, and if you’re a web developer or have access to a developer, one thing you should look for is a text message API.

An SMS API will allow you to automate your sending, as well as integrate with other platforms or services you currently use. This saves you even more time and hassle.

Here we’ll talk a little about what a text message API is and how you can use it for your business or organization for convenient automation to make mass texting hassle-free.

What Is a Text Message API?

If you’re a web developer or have developer knowledge, the concept of API needs no explanation.

But if you’re a regular Joe or Jane, you may have no idea about any of this.

And that’s OK!

In case you’re in that boat, “API” stands for “application programming interface.”

It’s simply a way to program different pieces of software to connect to each other.

An SMS API, then, allows developers to programmatically send out text messages.

The ability to program a text messaging software means that you have the flexibility to set up your own automations, integrations, and tools to send out mass text messages on your own terms.

Combine the power of automation with the effectiveness of texting and you’ve got a winning combo.

Through a text message API, you can have more control over your sending capabilities, thus leading to less hassle.

What Can You Do with a Text Message API?

If you’re new to the concept of API, you may need further clarification on what exactly you can do with it.

What’s the big deal about being able to use an SMS API?

Here are some examples of ways a text message API can help make your life easier.

Texts Triggered by Actions or Events

Using an SMS API, you can set up texts to automatically go out whenever your customer, employee, or member takes a particular action on your website.

This could include actions such as:

• making a purchase
• abandoning a cart
• filling out a form

Or you could set up messages to be sent in response to certain events, such as:

• a customer’s declined payment
• an account renewal
• an account expiration

These kinds of automated follow-up texts can help boost engagement or sales - or both!

Database Syncing with CRMs

Another use for API as it relates to texting would be to pass your CRM database contacts into your SMS contact list.

You could set it up so that whenever a contact is added into your CRM or contact management software, they are also automatically added to your text list.

This saves the hassle of the extra steps needed to manually add your contacts to both.

Two-Factor Authentication

A text message API will allow you to send out automated two-factor authentication texts.

You can use this to help beef up security for your users. (A little more on that later.)

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That’s just a sampling of some of the ways you can create automations via an SMS API

Whatever your situation, this kind of automation helps drive you to reach your goals with less work and hassle to you.

How Does a Text Message API Work? (What Authentication Method Is Used?)

So how does this all work?

Or, if you’re a web developer already familiar with the concept of API, what authentication method do you use?

The SMS API at Mobile Text Alerts uses an API key for authentication.

In layman’s terms, this means that your account will have a unique “code” that you’ll use as an identifier when you or your developers submit your API requests.

For any paid account, the API key is viewable under the Settings tab. (If you’re in a free trial account, you can contact support to request your API key.)

Developers can then submit API requests using an API client, plugging in your account’s unique API key according to our API documentation.

Simple as that!

If you’re a developer looking for some more specifics, here’s some more info on programming environments, endpoints, and a sample request for sending a message...

What Programming Environments Are Compatible?

The text message API can handle any GET requests and is compatible with any programming environment, including:

• Ruby
• PHP
• Python
• Java
• C#
• Any Others

This flexibility means you don’t have to get any additional tools or software set up. Easy!

What Endpoints Are Available?

The following endpoints are available via API:

• Send Message (SMS - a “regular” text)
• Send MMS (picture messages)
• Send TTS Message (text-to-speech calls)
• Export Message Replies (pull a report of replies people have sent in response to your texts)
• Add Subscriber (add a contact to your texting database)
• Remove Subscriber
• List Subscribers
• Get Subscriber (view information for a contact)
• Add Group (add a segment category of contacts to help organize your database)
• Remove Group
• List Groups (see a list of your account’s groups)
• Add Subscriber to Group
• Remove Subscriber from Group
• List Group Members
• Send 2FA Code (text out a 2-factor authentication code)
• Check 2FA Code

Here’s the link again to view the full documentation.

Having this variety of options gives you more choices for programming your SMS platform to accomplish whatever goal you’re trying to achieve - whether that’s:

• Tighter security
• Better team communication
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Boosted lead engagement
• Or any other purpose you have for sending text messages.

Sample Request for Sending a Text Message

As an example, the GET parameters to send a text message include:

A sample request plugging in these parameters would be:

rest/?key=testkey&request=send_message&message=This+is+a+test+message&number=4027188843

How a Text Message API Service Can Help You

In addition to the benefit of simply being able to automate and integrate SMS sending processes, an SMS API service helps free up limitations with a variety of options (as seen in the “endpoints” section above).

Messaging Options for Optimal Possibilities

Not only can you send SMS (which stands for “Short Message Service” and simply refers to a regular text message), you can also include media with MMS (“Multimedia Messaging Service”).

This means you can send images, GIFs, and other files along with your texts. The MMS option also allows you to send out longer messages (up to 1550 characters).

Text-to-speech is another messaging option, through which you can submit text content via the API, and the system will call the recipient’s phone. When the recipient answers, an automated voice will read the text that you submitted.

The ability to view any replies your recipient has sent in also means you can monitor and carry on 2-way conversations with your subscribers.

With all of these options for sending messages via text message API, the door is wide open with possibilities to utilize texting to bring a boost to your business or organization.

Subscriber Options for Convenient Management

You can add or remove contacts to or from your SMS service using the API at any time.

In addition, you can easily pull up a list of all contacts in your database.

Or if you want to view information about a single contact, you can retrieve that using the “Get Subscriber” call.

These options give you a more convenient way to manage your SMS contacts programmatically.

Group Options for Efficient Organization

Improve your efficiency with “grouping” options for your contacts.

You can quickly create “groups,” which are organizational segments by which you can categorize your contacts.

This allows you to send targeted messages according to the organized segments you’ve set up.

And this can all be done via the SMS API, so it’s efficient and easy for you.

2FA Options for Convenient Security

Security is always a good thing!

Two-factor authentication via SMS helps keep your users’ accounts secure by requiring them to enter a unique code sent in a text message to their phone.

You can send out these helpful security texts conveniently through your text message API.

Access to Web Platform and Mobile App for Maximized Options

Are there additional goals you want to accomplish beyond sending basic messages and account management?

Don’t sweat it! Your SMS APIalso comes with full access to our own web platform and mobile app for even more robust options.

You can do things like:

• Automate/schedule messages for particular dates/times
• Create “smart replies” for automated “chatbot” like interactions with recipients
• Plan out text message drip campaigns
• Send out mobile survey questions to collect recipient feedback
• Chat back and forth with recipients from a user-friendly Inbox
• Import existing spreadsheet lists of customers
• Set up and manage opt-in methods (such as “text to join” keywords and QR codes) for your audience to subscribe to your texts
• View a subscriber report and SMS delivery report
• Access live support via a convenient chat box

So you don’t have to feel limited if you want to explore other possibilities.

What’s the Cost for a Text Message API?

Of course, the big question and concern on everyone’s mind is, “How much does all of this cost? Is it expensive?”

The good news is: it doesn’t have to be!

All of the plans listed on the Pricing page include access to the API, so there are no additional fees to use it.

Costs start at $19 per month (paid annually) or $25 month-to-month.

See a complete list of plans below.

• Basic | 500 messages per month | $25/month (monthly plan) | $19/month (annual plan)
• Starter | 1,000 messages per month | $35/month (monthly plan) | $26/month (annual plan)
• Standard | 2,000 messages per month | $59/month (monthly plan) | $48/month (annual plan)
• Professional | 5,000 messages per month | $138/month (monthly plan) | $110/month (annual plan)
• Plus | 10,000 messages per month | $249/month (monthly plan) | $199/month (annual plan)
• Premium | 20,000 messages per month | $449/month (monthly plan) | $349/month (annual plan)
• Elite | 50,000 messages per month | $949/month (monthly plan) | $749/month (annual plan)
• Enterprise | 100,000 messages per month | $1,749/month (monthly plan) | $949/month (annual plan)
• Custom | > 100,000 messages per month | Contact sales

You’ll only pay the flat subscription fees listed on that Pricing page, unless you manually choose to make additional upgrades or purchases.

No need to worry about hidden fees or about being “nickel and dimed” to death!

And if you want to “try before you buy,” you can sign up for a free trial to get 50 free messages. (No credit card required - that way you don’t have to be concerned about forgetting to cancel if you decide not to move forward.)

How Do I Get Started with a Text Message API?

So you know that you want to use an SMS API for your business or organization.

You know how prevalent texting is, and how it’s the best way to get in touch with your audience in our current environment.

And, of course, you know that being able to set up your own text message automations is icing on the cake.

But you may be wondering if it’s difficult to get a text message API set up and running.

Think again!

All you need to do is:

1. Sign up for the plan that fits your needs.
2. View the API key in your account "Settings."
3. Access the API documentation to determine how to implement SMS for your purposes.

(If you decide to do the free trial first, you simply need to contact support after creating your account and ask for an API key.)

That’s it! No rigamarole or complicated, drawn-out approval process. You can get started in minutes.

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE