Short for Application Programming Interface, API is a software intermediary that allows applications, databases, libraries and systems to interact and communicate with one another. There are four common subtypes: Open APIs (publicly available), Partner APIs (require specific rights or licenses), Internal/Private APIs (accessible only by internal systems), and Composite APIs (combinations of different data or service APIs used to improve performance).
A2P messaging is high traffic SMS sent primarily by a business, organisation, or entity through an application to communicate with end-users, usually in one-way communication.
Bulk SMS refers to sending any substantial quantity of text messages at one time to multiple different recipients. SMSGlobal enables sending SMS, MMS, or email simultaneously.
Short for Communications Platform as a Service, a CPaaS is a cloud-based platform that provides developers to scale communication services to applications that suit their function, offering API integration and gateway access.
The CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices, dated as of July 2019, is the outline the use of enterprise SMS in the USA, particularly concerning Short Code and Long Code.
A country code or international prefix is a country-specific number that begins a full mobile number, essential for international messaging. For Australia, the code is 61.
A Comma-Separated Value file (CSV file) is a specially formatted file which allows different software to uniformly import and export information. Used for contact uploads and SMS merges.
Mandatory information fields required when creating MXT contact lists: Family Name, Given Name, Display Name, Mobile Number, and Email Address.
A custom word is a word or piece of text that can be set as a Sender ID, up to 11 characters long, identifying personal or business names.
A dedicated number is a virtual phone number that belongs to only one account and is used for SMS or MMS messaging, enabling direct customer contact.
All MXT accounts have a designated default country for converting mobile numbers to international format and displaying balances in appropriate currency.
A delivery receipt is a piece of information that is provided by carriers once an SMS/MMS has been received at the destination handset. Upon successful delivery, carriers notify SMSGlobal, updating message status to “Delivered”.
A domain refers to any group of users, devices, computers, or database servers that share different types of data via an organization's network. Manages user functions, authentication, and inter-device communication. Domain name identifies IP addresses; the URL is the address.
The Email-To-SMS gateway is an API that bolts on to existing software and processes, customised to whichever email platform or CRM being using, programmed to send email messages as SMS.
The General Data Protection Regulation is a regulation specific to the EU in regard to data protection and privacy, applying to EU and EEA citizens and personal data transfers outside these regions.
A contact group that is created in an MXT account and shared between all its sub-accounts.
Global Opt-out refers to numbers that request to opt-out will not be re-uploaded if a new contact file containing that specific number is uploaded, permanently excluding numbers from future campaigns.
A message template that is created in an MXT account and shared between all its sub-accounts, increasing uniformity and convenience for campaigns.
HyperText Transfer Protocol is a standard protocol used to transfer files by linking pages of hypertext throughout the World Wide Web. HTTP APIs use HTTP as transfer protocol.
Numbers unable to be recognized for message delivery, commonly due to incorrect entry or missing international format.
An Internet Protocol (IP) Address is a unique sequence of numbers, separated by full stops. Acts like a phone number, enabling device communication. Includes five subtypes: Public IP (primary internet-connected address), Private IP (internal network communication), Static IP (permanent manual assignment), Dynamic IP (automatically assigned by ISP), and White-listed IP (security-approved exclusive firewall access).
Integration can refer to the merging and optimization between two different software applications or systems. Businesses integrate SMS APIs into CRMs or eCommerce platforms to modernize communication within established systems, building personalized tech-stacks.
Automated SMS responses can be triggered when the sender replies using specific words (keywords). Example: replying 'Yes' to a confirmation prompt triggers an automated response.
A long code is a virtual mobile number that looks like a standard mobile service number of the country it is hosted from, typically ten digits, functioning like virtual numbers.
The intended receiver of a customer's message.
Short for Multimedia Messaging Service, MMS is the standard protocol for sending messages containing image, audio or video files. Can hold 300kB of data via WAP and SMS technologies, supporting video/audio files, images/animations, over 5000 text characters, and combinations thereof.
SMS limited to 160 characters by industry standards; multipart messages span multiple SMS when needed. Each section contains up to 153 characters (160 minus joining data), reassembling upon receipt.
Short for One-Time Password, OTP is a code sent to a separate communication source, like SMS, to authenticate who is completing an action, part of Two Factor Authentication/2 Step Verification.
The end-user provides consent to receiving messages from the Customer.
The end-user revokes consent to receiving messages from the Customer, usually by replying to an SMS with 'Stop.' Critical for complying with anti-spam legislation like Australia's Spam Act 2003.
OMS is a feature that allows users to send and receive SMS from Microsoft Outlook through a specialised interface. May require API implementation depending on MS Outlook version.
OTT refers to third-party instant messaging services and online chat as an alternative to SMS messaging, such as WhatsApp.
P2P Messaging refers to an individual person who subscribes to specific wireless messaging services or messaging applications in two-way communication with another individual.
A program is an SMS-based campaign that an end-user Opts In to receive, typically mobile marketing campaigns with one-way or two-way communication.
Representational State Transfer is a recently developed software architecture style that allows for a higher number of data formats. 70% of public APIs follow REST for faster load times and performance; REST APIs use HTTP protocol infrastructure.
Short for Software Development Kit, SDKs are a collection of tools that allows developers to build their own software with robust SMS integration.
The name or number that a message appears to come from, and is also referred to as the 'Send From' Address, applied to outgoing messages (16 numbers or 11 letters). Alphanumeric Sender ID sets custom words/names.
SMSGlobal has some virtual numbers that it makes available to customers to enable free two-way SMS, allowing reply receipt within 48 hours without dedicated numbers.
Shorter than the standard mobile number, short codes consist of three to eight digits and usually used for A2P messaging, receiving inbound SMS domestically only. Varies by country (USA: 5-6 digits; UAE: 4 digits; Australia: 6-8 digits; New Zealand: 3-4 digits). Dedicated Short Code means private allocation to one account.
MXT's Simple Send allows users to send SMS messages straight to specific mobile numbers, contacts and contact groups, supporting message templates without Merge Field customization.
Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) is used in building SMS API integrations and is considered the industry-standard protocol for sending SMS to Network providers. Level-7 TCP/IP protocol enabling fast SMS delivery using versions v3.3 and v3.4 with synchronous/asynchronous data exchange.
Feature creating customized messages automatically based on contact information lists. Includes Merge Field (personalization insertion points) and Merge Send (mass sending personalized messages to contacts/groups simultaneously).
Currency units used as payment consideration for SMSGlobal services.
Simple Object Access Protocol was the favourite protocol for API developers until recently, still used in major tech companies supporting legacy systems. Features in-built security and ACID compliance.
UM refers to the sending of the same, or substantially similar, unsolicited SMS messages, to more than one recipient.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates are small data files that allow for a secure connection between a company's server and customer's web browser, securing data transfers, card transactions, and personal information. Indicated by padlock icons and https:// URLs.
Local phone numbers containing ten digits capable of sending and receiving SMS.
Upon customer request, SMSGlobal creates linked accounts (sub/child accounts) connected to primary/parent accounts.
The person nominated by the primary account to be the principal point of contact on the sub account.
A mobile network operator or an aggregator whose services or infrastructure receives messages submitted by the customer via SMSGlobal Systems and sends to the relevant message recipient.
TCPA is the governing telecommunications act within the USA that protects consumers from the like of Spam, Junk-Messages or Unsolicited Messages (UM), etc.
MXT allows users to store frequently used message content as Message Templates, increasing uniformity in regular messaging.
TDLC is a dedicated commercial long code used for A2P messaging.
TFLC is a toll-free phone number that supports both voice and text communication, typically for A2P messaging.
Also known as Two-Step Verification (2SV), TFA adds an extra layer of security when verifying identity and confirming activity online, beyond username/password. Example: SMS OTP sent during online payment confirmation; incorrect codes trigger fraud alerts.
Recipients can reply to a message, and the response will be delivered to the sender's SMSGlobal account, using Dedicated Numbers or shared pool numbers as Sender ID.
A standardised way of transmitting characters outside of letters and digits, and includes symbols and scripts for many languages. Consumes more data than standard characters; single SMS contains fewer than 160 characters.
Mobile numbers hosted online and used for business SMS, MMS, two-way texting and much more, offering advantages including unified business messaging, fixed advertisable numbers, voice/text capability, and online application integration.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to create secure connections to other networks using the internet, primarily for businesses connecting remote users to private internal networks via encryption, restricting access to authorized users.
Includes the MXT portal, SMSGlobal APIs, and other customer-accessible tools enabling service benefit delivery.
Live demonstations of our MXT platform are conducted over Google Meets by our friendly tech support team and generally take 15mins.
