7 Crucial SMS API options that power your business

An SMS API or SMS application programming interface, allows app developers like you the opportunity to send and receive short messages from within your desktop or mobile applications. When you power your business with the right API options you create new ways to connect with your app users, which fuels communication and increases revenue.

Clearly, choosing the right SMS API for your business needs to be a priority! All of the following APIs integrate with any system or application for reliable long term SMS services.

#1: HTTPS API

This SMS API allows you to send 50-100 messages in real-time, it's easy to debug, and ideal for small business users. Features of the HTTP API include the ability to set up delivery acknowledgement, message delays and sender IDs.

#2: FTP API

An FTP API is used widely for once-off, high volume message dispatches. Simply upload to a set FTP server, and your messages can be sent from there. It also makes batch processing from legacy systems particularly easy.

Features of this SMS API span a significant range of functions, including gateway escalation, 7 day delay, two-way messaging, batch sending, and the use of quality media converters.

#3: SMPP API

The SMPP API is a popular choice for large enterprises and organizations that focus on constant, high volume two-way communication with their customers. This SMS API needs to be operated by someone with specialist knowledge, sending a minimum of 5000 messages each month.

SMPP works on an authenticated connection that functions in real-time, which means that you can send messages to customers instantly anywhere in the world. Features include language platform independence, 7 day delay, gateway escalation, support for different types of SMS messaging and the use of media converters. For more on the Clickatell SMS API gateway click here.

#4: XML API

An XML API allows for legacy system integration and has the ability to exchange and use information in large heterogeneous networks.

This language independent SMS API features a broad range of functions, including different types of SMS message support, media conversion, sender ID, delivery acknowledgement, gateway escalation, batch sending and 7 day delay.

Two-way messaging is not available if you choose an XML API from Clickatell.

#5: SOAP API

If you like the idea of XML-based messages using HTTPS, then you will need the SOAP API protocol to exchange this information via this basic messaging framework. Abstract layers can be built on this foundation layer of the web services stack, when using SOAP as an SMS API.

Features include batch sending, two-way messaging, 7 day delay, gateway escalation, sender ID, delivery acknowledgement, media conversion and different types of SMS message support.

#6: SMTP API

The SMTP API allows you to send bulk email to SMS, using server generated email. Then you can send a number of different text messages to your customers around the world, including SMS alerts, reminders and notifications.

Features include all those mentioned for the SOAP API, only to gain two-way messaging functionality you will need to integrate HTTP, SMPP or an FTP SMS API.

#7: COM Object API

To use a COM object API you need to connect from a Windows-based programming environment, which will allow for easy SMS integration with .asp pages and apps.

The features of this SMS API are the same as SMTP and SOAP APIs, though integration with HTTP, SMPP and FTP is necessary for two-way communication.

Choose your SMS API according to your business size, the scale of your SMS list, and the right platform preferences - and you are guaranteed to deliver a high quality, reliable SMS service to your customers that will super-power your business processes.

For more on the Clickatell SMS API gateway click here.