Overview
To be able to receive SMS in your account, you need a number to which SMS can be sent.
For this, you may use our shared phone numbers and a dedicated phone number that belongs to you only. For communication with customers, we strongly recommend booking your own inbound number.
Shared Numbers
For testing the inbound function or for very limited purposes, you can use our shared numbers, which are set automatically by our system. For restrictions and full details on how to use them, please read the article "Shared numbers".
Inbound Numbers
You can book your own inbound number with us, which you can use to receive SMS. We also offer SIM hosting so that you can use your own SIM cards and therefore numbers in our system.
If you want to book your own number, there are a few details to consider, which you can find in the article "Ordering your own number".
You can manage your own phone numbers in our web app under the menu item Numbers. You can view incoming SMS in your journal by selecting the tab Messages.
Keywords (Discontinued)
Please note that it is no longer possible to choose keywords that you use with our shared inbound numbers.
As you may see on the screenshots below, the keyword section is only available for customers who still have active keywords. Customers may still use their active keywords for now. Adding new keywords is not possible.
For more information on how to use shared inbound numbers, please refer to the article "Shared numbers."
Receiving Replies
For details on how to receive replies to SMS that you sent, please see the Helpdesk article "Receive replies and forward them".
Forward SMS
Optionally, you can forward incoming SMS directly to your server via a webhook, via email or via SMS. Combinations of these options are also possible.
Via Email, SMS or Slack
The settings for forwarding can be found in your login under the menu item Phone Numbers. Click the pencil icon next to the number you want to configure.
In the following dialog you can enable forwarding via email, SMS or Slack and provide the corresponding addresses, phone numbers or webhook URL.
You can also have messages forwarded to multiple email addresses or mobile numbers at the same time. To do this, enter the addresses or numbers separated by commas, for example: address@mail.com,address2@mail.com,address3@mail.com
When forwarding via SMS, you can also enter contact names and group names in addition to mobile phone numbers.
Please note: For forwarding via SMS we charge our normal price for sent SMS.
For forwarding incoming calls, please read our article Redirects Incoming Calls.
Via HTTP Callback
Find the settings for forwarding via HTTP callback (webhook) under Developer -> Webhooks. Click New to create a webhook or the pencil icon to edit an existing one.
In the dialog, enter the Endpoint URL that should receive the callback, optional HTTP Headers and pick the Method (GET, POST or JSON). Choose Incoming SMS as the Event and optionally restrict the webhook to a specific Inbound number.
Forward SMS on shared numbers via email
To forward incoming SMS on shared numbers via email, please follow these steps:
In our webapp, click on the Settings item in the menu. Then click on the Messages tab.
At the very bottom you will find the section Forward replies to shared numbers to email.
Here you can specify the email address to which the incoming SMS should be forwarded. If you want the messages to be forwarded to multiple email addresses, please enter them separated by commas.
Please note the restrictions that apply when using a shared number. Details can be found in the article Shared numbers.