Resources / Frequently Asked Questions

How do we register on DLT platforms? What are the steps involved?

The registration process for the DLT platforms can be broadly classified into 5 steps –

• Getting Entity
• Registering Headers
• Adding Telemarketer
• Registering Content and Consent Templates
• Uploading Consent Data (only for promotional and service explicit SMS).

There is an additional step required only for VILPOWER and BSNL DLT platforms. Know the detailed registration process here.

We tried registering on DLT, but have not received the verification email and OTP.

Please reach out to the DLT support teams for assistance.

• Videocon DLT – please contact dlt.helpdesk@vmipl.in
• Jio DLT – please contact jio.ISOMCCSupport@ril.com
• Vodafone Idea Ltd DLT – please contact support@vilpower.in or +91-9619500900
• BSNL DLT – please refer https://www.ucc-bsnl.co.in/spoc_support/

You can also check the status of your application and headers on Videocon here- Open https://smartping.live/entity/particular > Click on the option required and click Next > Enter Entity Reference ID and click Submit > Insert OTP received on Mobile and Click Submit > Pending  Status > Get Token and Verify.

We are sending only Do we need to register on DLT? What will happen if we don’t register?

(or)

We are sending only promotional SMS. Do we need to register on DLT? What will happen if we don’t register?

Registering on DLT is mandatory for everyone that wants to send SMS (promotional, service or ) and only entities with DLT-approved headers (sender names) and templates will be able to send SMS. Please register on any of the DLT platforms to start sending SMS. Know more about the DLT registration process here.

I am not able to add imimobile’s TM ID.

To add Telemarketer:

• In the Videocon DLT platform – Select ‘Telemarketer Request’ (side nav)> Enter the telemarketer ID “110200001293” > Click view details > Tick the check box “I hereby authorize IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited for on-boarding with us on VMIPL DLT Panel as our Telemarketer partner. ” > Click Submit request.
• In the Jio DLT platform – Select Campaign > My Telemarketers > Manage Telemarketers > Search for telemarketer ID “110200001293” or “IMI Mobile” > Drag to the right side > Click Apply.
• In the VILPOWER DLT & BSNL DLT platforms – Select Telemarketer from the dashboard > Click on Add > Type “IMI Mobile” or “IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited” In the “Select your Telemarketer” text box > Wait for the drop-down to appear > Select “IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited” from the drop-down > Add ”110200001293” in the Enter your Telemarketer ID textbox > Click Add.

Is DLT registration enough with one operator or do we need multi-operator registration?

Registering with one DLT operator is enough. We recommend registering on Videocon DLT as it is free to register on and has an easier registration process.

I can’t find my Entity ID in the VILPOWER, BSNL and Videocon DLT platforms.

See how to find your Entity ID:

• In Videocon DLT Platform: Click on Profile (side nav bar) > Registration ID. View sample image.
• In Jio: In the top left corner, under entity name. View sample image.
• In VILPOWER/BSNL DLT Platform: Click on the Profile Icon > Account Settings > Under Business Entity Name. View sample image.

I got my Entity ID/Registration ID. What do I do next?

There are 5 more steps that need to be completed before you can start sending SMS. Please see the details of these steps below:

1. Add your Entity ID/Registration ID here.
2. Register your headers in the DLT platforms. Please view the header registration process here.
3. Add Telemarketer –
   • In the Videocon DLT platform – Select ‘Telemarketer Request’ (side nav)> Enter the telemarketer ID “110200001293” > Click view details > Tick the check box “I hereby authorize IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited for on-boarding with us on VMIPL DLT Panel as our Telemarketer partner. ” > Click Submit request.
   • In the Jio DLT platform – Select Campaign > My Telemarketers > Manage Telemarketers > Search for telemarketer ID “110200001293” or “IMI Mobile” > Drag to the right side > Click Apply.
   • In the VILPOWER DLT & BSNL DLT platforms – Select Telemarketer from the dashboard > Click on Add > Type “IMI Mobile” or “IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited” In the “Select your Telemarketer” text box > Wait for the drop-down to appear > Select “IMI mobile Cloud Communications (India) Private Limited” from the drop-down > Add ”110200001293” in the Enter your Telemarketer ID textbox > Click Add.
4. Register your content templates in the DLT and Textlocal platforms. View the template registration process here.
5. Only for Promo/Service Explicit SMS- Register your consent templates and add customer consent data in DLT platforms. View the consent template registration process here.

I have not received Entity ID/Registration ID even after days of registration.

Please check if you have completed OTP and email verification. If yes, then contact DLT support using the details given below.

• Videocon DLT – please contact dlt.helpdesk@vmipl.in
• Jio DLT – please contact jio.ISOMCCSupport@ril.com
• Vodafone Idea Ltd DLT – please contact support@vilpower.in or +91-9619500900
• BSNL DLT – please refer https://www.ucc-bsnl.co.in/spoc_support/

While sending an email to the DLT support team, mention the details given below.

• Registered business name:
• Temporary id:
• Registered PAN number:
• Registered email id:
• Customer concern:
• Entity’s SPOC contact No:

I have got my Temporary ID. What do I do next?

Any further process can only be completed once you have received your Entity ID, and you will get your Entity ID/Registration ID post verification of your documents by the operator. See detailed DLT registration process here.

What documents are accepted as valid authorized signatory document by the DLT Platforms?

• GST Document which includes the name of Authorizing Signatory
• Ministry of Corporate Affairs Document
• Board Resolution mentioning the name of Authorizing Signatory signing LOA on letter head
• MOU/MOA

What are the different types of document required for DLT registration?

The following documents are accepted as proof of identity and proof of address on various DLT platforms.

For Individual –

• Aadhar or Unique Identity number
• Election commission id
• Passport
• Driving License
• Income Tax PAN Number

For Sole Proprietor & Private Ltd.-

• Shops & Establishment Registration Certificate
• GST Reg Document (Please ensure org. name matched the document)
• FSSAI License
• Certificate of Incorporation

Is there a sample LoA (Letter of Authorization) that I can use?

You can find a sample LoA here. Please make sure to change the content as needed for the respective DLT platform.

My Headers (sender names) have been approved on DLT. Is my work done?

Once your headers are approved on any of the DLT platforms, please reach out to us at with a screenshot of your approved headers so that we can add them to your account. You will also need to start registering content and consent templates in the DLT and Textlocal platforms. Please view the rest of DLT registration process here.  

My header (sender name) does not match my registered entity name. Will it get approved?

If the header name is different from your registered entity name, please justify the same and add your mobile number in the description box. The mobile number will help the DLT support team to contact you in case of any queries. For Videocon only – You can attach a document proving the relation between your entity name and your requested header.  

Does Textlocal get notified when my headers (sender names) are registered with operators or should we provide the proof of approval?

Textlocal staff has no visibility on why and where the entity (PE) registrations are stuck. The respective DLT portals will directly communicate with you over email regarding approval status, any missing documentation etc. Please check your emails and provide additional docs as needed. Post header approval, please email a screenshot of your DLT account displaying the approved headers to support@textlocal.in.

Where can I find DLT Template ID in the Videocon DLT platform

Click “Template” (side nav bar) > Click “Active” in the Status column of the required template > Template ID

Do I have to include “Brand Names” in my content templates?

According to new guidelines shared by operators, all content templates must include your brand name/complete business name/trademark in the message footer. See how to add your brand name/entity name here.

Does Textlocal get notified when my templates are registered with operators or should we provide the proof of approval?

Textlocal staff has no visibility on why and where the entity, header or template registrations are stuck. The respective DLT portals will directly communicate with you over email regarding approval status.

Post template approval, please add your DLT-approved templates and template IDs in your Textlocal . See how to add templates in Textlocal here.

My content templates have been approved on DLT. Is my work done?

Once your templates are approved on any of the DLT platforms, please add them with DLT template IDs in your Textlocal account. Please ensure you change the variables to a Textlocal-supported syntax. See how to add templates in Textlocal . After completing this step, you are all set to send service implicit and transactional SMS.

Register Consent Templates and Consent Data for Service Explicit/Promo SMS- Before you can start sending service explicit or promotional SMS, you need to register consent templates in the DLT platforms by following the process given here. Please read the operator comms (see emails from Jio, Videocon, VIL, BSNL here) for more details on consent templates.

How do I change the variable parameter in Textlocal? Is it necessary to change it?

The syntax of variables is different in DLT and Textlocal. So, you will need to change the variable to a Textlocal-supported syntax when adding templates in Textlocal. See how to change the variable parameter in Textlocal here.

Eg: An OTP template will look like “Your OTP is {#var#}” in DLT platforms and “Your OTP is %%|text^{“inputtype” : “text”, “maxlength” : “6”}%%” in Textlocal.

What are the various message categories on DLT platforms?

As part of TCCCPR 2018, TRAI introduced 2 new message categories. Please see the type of messages allowed in each category below:

• Service Implicit – For SMS such as OTPs, order confirmations, important notifications regarding product and services such as purchase confirmation messages, order status, alerts, reminder SMS, etc.
• Service Explicit – Promotional messages to existing customers after receiving their consent. If at any point of time, the customer withdraws and opt-out of receiving these texts, then the SMS will be considered Promotional.
• Promotional – Any message with an intention to promote or sell a product, goods, or service.
• Transactional – This is reserved for Banks only.

Please see a detailed comparison of Promotional, Service and Transactional SMS here.

What is the maximum variable limit on DLT platforms?

DLT platforms allow 30 characters for each variable. We recommend registering your templates with multiple variables if you wish to use Textlocal shortlinks or more than 30 characters per variable in your message content.

Does Consent template apply to all messages? Do I need to get consent from my customers to send OTPs as well?

You need to register consent templates and upload consent data only for promotional and service explicit messages.  

What should we add in message body of consent templates?

A consent template is a standard message that you show your end users to get their consent to receive communications from your business. Example:

• ABC Solutions” needs Your Consent in Order to Serve You Better. We May Send You Messages About Your Account Information, Activity and Our Best Offers
• We will send you updates, transactions, recommendations of our services or products being a registered customer with us [Brand Name]
• Dear Customer, thanks for visiting The Design Studio in Andheri (W) today. We would love to stay in touch with you about our new launches and promotions. To continue receiving exciting offers from us on call/SMS, please submit your consent.

What is the process to register Consent Templates?

You can view the process to register consent templates in each of the DLT platforms here.

I’m getting these errors while trying to send SMS from API: “The request was aborted” or “The underlying connection was closed”. How can I fix this?

If the API/server error is: “The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel” or “The underlying connection was closed”, it means that the server is currently using an outdated TLS version. We support Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.2 and above, so you will need to update your servers.

We’re also adding some points below that have helped users diagnose and resolve these errors.

• Upgrade to the latest code libraries, if available.
• Ensure to use the recent TLS/SSL versions as the older versions may depreciate with time.
• Try DNS-Flush as this can help resolve security, internet connectivity, and other propagation-related issues.
• Ensure to use the updated versions of the code/framework (Java, PHP, .net, etc).
• Add the below ciphers in your server(s).

Ciphers List : 

•  ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
•  ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
•  ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
•  ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
•  ECDHE-ECDSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305
•  ECDHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305
•  DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
•  DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 

‘Error Code 3: Invalid Login’ while using Textlocal SMS API

When I try to send SMS using Textlocal API, I receive an error message saying “Error code 3: Invalid login”. What am I doing wrong?

Error code 3: Invalid login is thrown when one of your login parameters is incorrect. The login parameters include ‘username’ and ‘hash’ or ‘apikey’. Here are a few quick checkpoints to identify the problem:

• Incorrect URL? Please make sure you call https://api.textlocal.in/ and not https://api.txtlocal.com
• Incorrect ‘username’? Please check if you correctly entered your registered email ID of Textlocal in the ‘username’ field.
• Incorrect ‘hash’? Every account will have a unique hash key. Your hash key will be available in your messenger under Help -> All Documentation -> Your hash key. Please ensure you entered this hash key accurately in the ‘hash’ parameter. Note that your hash key changes whenever your password changes. At the time of password change, stop your API calls, update your hash key once the change is done and then, restart the API calls.
• Incorrect ‘apikey’? You can generate your API keys from Settings -> All Settings -> API keys. API keys can be restricted to a set of IP address. The API key entered in ‘apikey’ parameter should match one of the active API keys in your list and if that particular API key is restricted to a set of IPs, your machine/server/system IP should be in the IP set.
• If the Textlocal API has been called multiple times with incorrect credentials, your account will be temporarily blocked to prevent any malicious exploitation. Please contact the support team to unblock your account.

If the error still persists, please contact support@textlocal.in.

‘Error code 80: Invalid Template’ while using Textlocal SMS API

I converted my account to non-promotional and now, when I try to send an SMS using Textlocal API, I receive an error “Error code 80: Invalid Template”. How can I correct it?

You can only send messages that match a DLT-approved template. Please ensure that you also add your DLT-approved templates in Textlocal. Once our support team reviews and approves your template, you can start sending messages based on that template. Get detailed information on how to add templates and send messages via API.

We recommend testing your added DLT templates with a single send to your mobile number trying to use the template to send SMS via Textlocal API. To send SMS via UI: Log in to Textlocal > Click Send > Click Send Text Messages > Select the template you want to use from the dropdown > Select the Sender Name you added for this template in DLT > Add your phone number in the Paste List > Send Message.

If your error persists, please contact support@textlocal.in.

Messages not getting delivered with the desired sender name

I want my messages to be delivered with my company name as the header. How can I set this in my Textlocal Messenger account? 

(or)

I want my messages to be delivered with my company name as the header. But, when I mention my company name as the ‘sender’ parameter in Textlocal API, the API response is “Error code 43: Invalid sender name”. What am I doing wrong?

To send SMS from your headers (sender names), you must register your sender name on DLT platforms -Promotional SMS can be delivered with a 6-digit numeric headers and Service SMS such as Service Implicit and Service Explicit can be delivered with a 6-character alpha header.

If you would like to send promotional or service SMS, please register your business, headers, and templates on DLT platforms. Once your headers are approved on DLT platforms, please share a screenshot of your DLT account displaying the approved headers with us at support@textlocal.in. Our team will verify the headers and add them to your account. You can then use one of the added headers in your account to send SMS.

For Textlocal control panel users:

The option to choose and assign a Sender ID will be available on the Send screen once your account is converted to a promotional or non-promotional account.

For Textlocal API users:

This is an error response when incorrect value is passed on to ‘sender’ parameter. We recommend confirming the sender ID added for the template you are trying to use in Textlocal portal before sending an SMS via Textlocal API.

Unable to upload excel file while adding contacts

When I upload an excel file to a contact group in Messenger, I receive an error – ‘Nothing has been imported. Either there is no new data to import, or you have selected the wrong column headings.’ Where am I going wrong?

This error might be observed due to one of the following reasons:

• Special characters or spaces in the mobile numbers column. Please clean the data and try uploading again.
• If your excel file has additional merge fields (i.e. custom parameters along with mobile numbers), there might be a problem with the column headings. Ensure that the column with mobile numbers is correctly assigned the ‘number’ field.
• If your excel file has column headings, please uncheck the header name from Textlocal Messenger before clicking on ‘import’ button.

If the error still persists, reach out to us at support@textlocal.in

What is SMS?

SMS stands for Short Message Service, and refers to the sending of short text messages from one device to another; in most cases from one mobile phone to another. The size of an SMS text message is restricted to 160 characters.  

What is a Multipart / Concatenated SMS?

A standard text message is 160 characters long. If your message exceeds the limit, an alert is shown on the screen allowing to continue typing the message beyond the character limit. This message will count for 2 or more SMS Credits (depending on the length of your message) and you will be charged correspondingly. Special such as ~, ^, {, }, [, ], |, will constitute two characters. Messenger allows you to send longer SMS of upto 918 characters which are split into smaller SMS and later joined at the receiving end which is a mobile. In this scenario, SMS length is calculated for 153 characters as 7 characters are used to concatenate the message when it is delivered to the handset.  

What is an SMS gateway?

An SMS gateway is the means through which a computer can send or receive SMS messages. Often allowing for the conversion and sending of other forms of media or message (such as email), SMS gateways will generally utilise the same mobile phone networks as the messages sent from mobile phones.  

Are there any contracts or commitments with Messenger?

There are no contracts involved in running a Messenger account – it all works on a pay as you go basis, so you can send text messages with no hassle. If you purchase any inbound systems they have a minimum term of one month which is renewable.  

Who can use Textlocal bulk SMS services?

Any Indian business, society or community group can use Textlocal to reach out to customers, staff or friends with SMS, instantly connecting to people where ever they are. With different levels of service, there’s something to suit an organisation regardless of size. Textlocal offers unbeatable prices, with packages starting from Rs 1,475 for 5000 messages, there’s also excellent support with passionate experts here to help.  

Do I need a mobile phone?

You do not need a mobile phone to use messenger; messages are sent and received from Messenger. It is all web based so you do not need to download anything. All you need is an internet enabled PC, Mac or Tablet.  

Can I purchase credits online in Textlocal? If yes, how?

Yes, you can purchase credits online in Textlocal. Please follow the steps listed below:

1. Log in to your messenger
2. Click on the Buy option available in the top right hand corner.
3. This will take you to the Order page
4. Select your desired SMS bundle from the drop down option and fill in the details.
5. Click on Order Credits
6. You will be redirected to our payment portal powered by CCavenue
7. Choose the payment mode and complete the payment process
8. The credits will be added into your account instantly.

How can I send SMS online?

It’s essentially the same process that you would go through when sending an SMS on your phone, in this case it’s just that you’d do it on your computer. With Textlocal Messenger, it’s as simple as typing in your message, selecting the number you wish to send to, and pressing send. Job done.  

How can I receive SMS online?

You will need to have a long code or a keyword to be able to receive SMS online. These are also called Virtual Mobile Numbers (VMNs). You can find more information on various options for receiving SMS here. All the messages sent to these long codes will be received in separate inboxes which can be accessed in your Textlocal account.  

How much does it cost to send a message?

The cost depends on how many credits you want to buy; one credit equals one SMS message (i.e., 160 characters) and the credits last indefinitely. The cost of our credit bundles can be found on our prices page.  

Will my credits expire?

Your credits will never expire.  

How many characters can I send in a message?

You can send up to 918 characters in a message. Here, we refer to standard Latin symbols (ASCII) and not special or Unicode characters. Messenger displays clearly when composing your message as to how many characters you have used and how many credits your text will use up so you can edit the message accordingly.  

What is length of an SMS and what is the relation between message length and credits?

The standard length of SMS is 160 characters in Latin symbols (ASCII). It also varies depending on the message type, especially if it is a Unicode message or if the message uses any special characters. A message with up to 160 characters uses up one SMS credit. If the message is more than 160 characters, one credit is used up for 153 characters as the remaining 7 characters are used to concatenate the message when it is delivered to the handset. So, one SMS credit is used up for a maximum of 160 characters, 2 credits are used up for 161-306 characters (=153*2) and so on. You can send messages up to 918 characters and this long message will use up six SMS credits (918 = 153*6).  

Can I have more than one  headers approved for my promotional or non-promotional account? Are there any additional charges?

You can have multiple headers (sender IDs) approved in your Textlocal account and there is no additional charge for this.  We only need a screenshot of your DLT account displaying the approved headers.  

How long does it take for Textlocal team to convert my account to Promotional or Non-Promotional?

After you’ve registered your business, headers, and templates on DLT platforms and added the same in Textlocal, our support team will review your account and convert it to promotional or non-promotional based on your DLT details within 12 business hours. As soon as your account is converted, you will receive a notification over email from our support team.  

How long does it take for the Textlocal support team to approve the templates?

Templates are approved within 2 business hours* during Monday – Saturday (9 AM – 6 PM) except on national holidays and major festivals. Having said that, if you need your templates to be approved urgently – you can always mail us at support@textlocal.in  

I have a non-promotional account with Textlocal. Now I want to do promotional campaigns for my product launch. Do I have to create a new account and purchase credits again?

No, you don’t have to create a new account or purchase credits again for promotional messaging. We can help you send promotional and service SMS from the same account. Please reach out to us at support@textlocal.in, if you wish to enable this for your account. There is NO additional cost involved in this whole process.  

Can I send bulk SMS in regional languages?

Yes, Textlocal supports Unicode messages which will enable you to send SMS in Indian languages. Our transliteration tool will help you easily and quickly draft texts in local languages. On messenger we support most of the popular languages in India which include: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu  

What is a Unicode message and why is it used?

Standard SMS sent using the GSM 3.38 character set allows the sending of 160 characters for a single message, and multiples of 153 for longer messages. The character set only allows those characters to be sent, and anything outside of it is changed – for instance í (that’s i-acute) gets changed to an i. Unicode allows the support of a much wider character set, and actually includes pretty much every character in the world, including Indian languages, some of the stranger European characters (like í), all the Cyrillic alphabets (e.g. Arabic, Russia, Punjabi and Greek), all the Asian ones (Chinese, Japanese etc), and also some of the emoticons out there! Basically, every single character you can think of. An example Hindi Unicode message is: अब टेक्स्टलोकल से आप अपनी भाषा में आसानी से सन्देश भेज सकते हैं!  

What are the differences between Unicode and GSM?

Firstly, the standard length of a Unicode message is 70 characters (compared to 160 for GSM). Long messages are supported for Unicode messages as well, and they are in multiples of 64 (compared to 153 for GSM). So a double length Unicode message can be up to 134 characters, triple 198, quadruple 262, etc. Messages are priced the same way i.e., 1 credit is used up for 1 message (up to 70 Unicode characters), 2 credits are used up for double-length Unicode message (up to 134 characters) and so on.  

Why are my messages using up two credits?

A message will use over one credit if you do either of the following:

• You are using over 160 characters per message.
• You are using over 70 characters in a Unicode message
• You have merged data into your message which is increasing the characters.

I have sent a message to some numbers. How do I check if the message has been delivered?

Textlocal provides real time delivery reports of the all the messages sent. You can access the status of each message in the Reports section in Messenger. The report is further divided by channels (Group message, single message, API, email 2 SMS). Depending on the channel used to send messages, you can check the reports in the respective section. Here is a quick reference of the report status and few possible reasons.

Note: Textlocal stores your data for a period of 6 months. We recommend exporting your reports periodically and/or setting up email reporting to ensure you don’t lose any important data.

Does Textlocal provide data?

We do not provide data, however we do offer long codes which are extremely effective in collecting opt-in numbers from your customers and can be used alongside any text marketing activity.  

How secure is my data?

Your data is completely safe. Textlocal does not share or pass on any of your data, including the mobile numbers you upload. Your data will only be used for your SMS marketing. For further information see our SLA. Textlocal provide a secure 128-bit encrypted service which is equivalent to online banking security.  

Can I import data into my Messenger?

You can import mobile numbers from an excel sheet or a CSV file. You can upload your mobile numbers along with five fields of information with just a few clicks of a button. You can also enter your numbers individually or by copying and pasting if you have smaller volumes.  

Can I merge data into my messages? (Or) Can I personalize my message?

Yes, you can easily merge custom data and personalize your message by having custom fields for each contact. You can input these custom fields manually or you can include these custom fields against each number in an excel spreadsheet and upload it. While composing the message, just click on ‘Insert merge fields’ and select the custom field in all the places where you want to personalize. Textlocal will automatically sends out personalized messages with custom fields to all your contacts.  

How to send bulk SMS to all the contacts in my mobile phone through Textlocal mobile app?

While sending a message, you can select a single contact or multiple contacts from your mobile contacts. You just have to select ‘A Phone Contact’ and select the contacts one by one. Alternatively, you can import the phone contacts to form a contact group within Textlocal Messenger. Here is what you need to do:

1. Login to our mobile app
2. Go to Your contact groups
3. From the tools section click on import from phone
4. Select the group and then select all your mobile contacts
5. Click on Next and all the selected contacts will be imported to that particular group.
6. Select the group, type your message and click on send.

What is an API hash key? Where do I find my API hash?

API Hash key is the encrypted form of your password. This is unique for every user in Textlocal. You will need to pass the correct hash key to integrate your application with our API. The unique API key for your account will be available in the messenger under Help->All Documentation -> Your hash key Note: Changing password will change your hash key. So do not forget to update the new hash key in your API code.  

I have a reseller whitelabelled account with Textlocal. Where do I find the API hash keys for my sub accounts?

Since you are a whitelabelled reseller, your sub accounts will not have the help section to check their API hash. However you can check the unique hash keys for all your users from Settings -> Reseller Settings -> User Accounts.  

Can I send messages outside India?

You cannot send messages to mobile numbers registered outside India. However, messages can still be delivered to mobile numbers registered in India, even when the subscriber is on international roaming.  

Can people text in to my long code from outside India?

Subscribers registered on any network (international or Indian) can text in to a DIN / long code, since a DIN / long code uses the country code.  

How are my customers charged for texting in to my long codes?

In India, SMS to a long code (10 digit number) is treated as a standard P2P SMS and the end customer is charged as per his/her SMS plan.  

Why do numbers look like 4.47741E+12 when I export to Excel?

This is because Excel thinks your mobile number is a long number so has converted it into scientific notation. To fix this click on the column header, click Format Cells->As Number->0 decimal places.  

How long do messages stay in my inbox for?

Inbound messages are stored forever in your Textlocal Messenger account. You can easily export these to an excel file for your own records.  

Can the sender name be my business name, rather than a random number?

Yes. If you have a non-promotional account, you can add a DLT-approved header in your Textlocal account, at no extra cost.Sender IDs are a great way to enhance awareness of your business and conduct professional communication. Promotional messages can be sent from DLT-approved 6-digit numeric headers. You can read about all the differences between promotional and non-promotional SMS (service and transactional) here.  

How can customers reply to my messages?

Your customers cannot directly reply to your Promotional/Service/Transactional SMS as they are sent from a Sender ID. However, you can embed your inbox information (Keyword + long code) in your messages and your customers can use these to reach out to you.  

Can I schedule messages to be sent at a later date?

Yes, it’s easy to schedule your messages for delivery at a later date & time. Choose to schedule them to be sent only after specific times and dates. You can also set an end date for your message to expire, to prevent it from being sent out after a specified date. Staggering messages is also possible; to allow time to handle responses instead of being overwhelmed by many all in one go. If you need to change the time and date of the scheduled SMS, you can do so via the reports section of Messenger.  

What business sectors can benefit from mobile marketing?

SMS is a universal tool. Whether being used purely for sales and marketing or for transactional alerts, SMS can fit into any application and sector. Please refer to our case studies for more information.  

Does the size of my business affect the success of SMS?

No, smaller campaigns work as well as the larger campaigns, as long as you have an opt-in database of your contacts and you send relevant messaging to them.  

How can local businesses get greater benefits from SMS marketing?

Local businesses can benefit from being able to instantly communicate to hundreds or thousands of people about your latest offers & promotions. Messages are instantly delivered typically within 5 seconds and read by 95% of those customers within the first 5 seconds. That’s guaranteed communication within 10 seconds of sending a message!

How does bulk SMS messaging work?

Bulk SMS messaging works in exactly the same way as sending a text message online (as detailed in the previous entry), except on a larger scale. Rather than sending a message to one recipient, you would send your SMS message to a group of recipients utilising the functionality of a bulk SMS service, like our proprietary Textlocal Messenger service.  

How do I send bulk SMS messages for my business?

Our system is extremely easy to use. Once you have amassed a list of customer phone numbers, they are uploaded to your Textlocal Messenger account. Once you have purchased a message bundle from us, simply login to your Textlocal Messenger account, enter a message, and select the individual customers, or customer groups that have consented to receive additional communication from your business.. Click send, and you’re done! In addition, to comply with TRAI regulations you will need to register on any one of the DLT platforms. Know more about the DLT registration process here.  

How can businesses buy bulk SMS messages?

Simple, sign up for an account for your business with Textlocal Messenger and either directly buy message bundles from your account or request an invoice directly from us.  

How much does bulk SMS cost?

We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our service presents superb value for money to our customers; as such, our service and software are free, you simply pay for the texts that you send. For extra convenience, we sell our messages in bundles; the smaller bundles offer a price of Rs 0.295 per text. However, the bigger the bundle, the better the value; if you were to purchase a 250,000 message bundle (for Rs 53,750), you’d be charged a rate of 21.5p per message. Don’t forget, we’ll match or beat any competitor’s price. For sales enquiry, please call us on +91-95021 95021 or email us at sales@textlocal.in, and we will get back to you.  

How long does it take to send sms in bulk?

There is no set time of how long it takes to send bulk SMS messages, you set the sending activity to send immediately or schedule it to be sent at a later point in time.  

Are there SMS packages for bulk text that reduce my costs?

Yes there are, the more messages you buy the cheaper it gets. To see a list of our bulk SMS prices, please click here.  

What support do I get for creating and running my bulk marketing campaigns?

Using our award winning Messenger 3.0 Platform sending messages is a breeze, however if you would like help managing or sending your bulk SMS campaigns, then please consider using our Agency Services or contact our friendly support team for help.  

Can I integrate the Textlocal Bulk SMS gateway into my application?

Yes, our SMS gateway can be used reliably from any email software, server or CRM application. Access to the gateway is free and allows the user to send an SMS to an unlimited number of recipients. Simply sign up for a free Messenger account, enable SMS to your account and send the messages as emails to anymobilenumber@sms.textlocal.in. Full information can be found here.  

Can I sign up for a free trial?

You can sign up for a free trial in just 30 seconds, with no credit card required. Simply enter your email address to get started and get 10 free texts. Our platform is free to sign up and if you decide you like us after the free trial, you just pay for the texts you send.

Is Messenger really free to use?

Yes, you simply purchase bulk SMS bundles and send messages to your customers on the go. Apart from this, platform maintenance and training will also be provided for free.  

What additional taxes are applicable to me?

All prices on the website exclude tax of 18%, which will be applicable on every purchase.  

How can I buy credits?

You can purchase bundles of credits up to 1 million credits online with a credit or debit card. Alternatively, we can invoice you for 25,000 credits or more which you can pay by bank transfer or cheque or DD. The credits will be added upon receipt of payment.  

How do I buy a Dedicated Inbound Number?

Any inbound number can be purchased via the Inbox section in Messenger. Click ‘Create a new inbox’ to proceed.  

Am I tied into any contracts?

No, you only pay for the amount of credits you need and inboxes for as long as you require them for.

What is DND?

DND is a national ‘Do Not Disturb’ registry put into effect by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to effectively regulate unsolicited commercial calls and messages. Telecom subscribers who do not wish to receive any promotional messages or calls can register to DND. The registration will be effective within 7 days of placing the request with the service provider.

Note: Transactional and Service Implicit messages can be sent even if the subscriber is registered to DND. These messages are solicited by the end user and do not contain any promotion, advertising or marketing information.

What is meant by commercial communication?

“Commercial Communication” means any message, voice or SMS, made through telecommunications service, which is transmitted for the purpose of informing about, or soliciting or promoting any commercial transaction in relation to goods, investment or services.

What is Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)?

Any commercial communication which a subscriber opts not to receive except:

1. Any transactional message; or
2. Any message transmitted on the directions of central government or state government or agencies authorized by it.

What is the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR)?

National Customer Preference Register is a national data base containing a list of the telephone numbers of all subscribers who have registered their preferences regarding receipt of commercial
communications.

What is the difference between Promotional SMS, Service SMS, and Transactional SMS?

As part of TCCCPR 2018, TRAI introduced 2 new message categories. Please see the type of messages allowed in each category below:

• Service Implicit – For SMS such as OTPs, order confirmations, important notifications regarding product and services such as purchase confirmation messages, order status, alerts, reminder SMS, etc.
• Service Explicit – Promotional messages to existing customers after receiving their consent. If at any point of time, the customer withdraws and opt-out of receiving these texts, then the SMS will be considered Promotional.
• Promotional – Any message with an intention to promote or sell a product, goods, or service.
• Transactional – This is reserved for Banks only.

See a detailed comparison of Promotional, Service and Transactional SMS here.

What is fully blocked category and partially blocked category?

Subscribers who have registered with the national DND registry to not receive any Promotional / commercial SMS belong to a fully blocked category.

Subscribers who have registered with the national DND registry to not receive commercial SMS, except from any one or more of the below categories belong to a partially blocked category. Mobile subscribers can register with NDNC opting in to receive Promotional messages in one or more of the following categories:

• Banking / Insurance / Financial products / credit cards
• Real Estate
• Education
• Health
• Consumer goods and automobiles
• Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT
• Tourism and Leisure

What is the procedure for my customers (subscribers) to register in NCPR?

You customers can register their preference(s) in NCPR by dialing 1909 or by sending SMS to 1909. 

Do I need to submit any documents for sending Bulk SMS using Textlocal?

You need to register on DLT platforms by following the process given here to start sending SMS. Post registration, you would also need to add your Entity ID/Registration ID, headers, and templates in Textlocal.

If you need help at any stage, please write to us at support@textlocal.in or call us at +91-95021 95021 and we will guide you through the process.

Can I send Promotional messages to subscribers registered in DND who opted in to receive messages from a particular category?

Yes, if the subscribers in your target group have opted in to receive messages from the same partially blocked category as your business, messages are processed for delivery to these subscribers.

Can I send messages throughout the day?

As per TRAI’s TCCCP regulation, Promotional messages can be sent only between 10 AM and 9 PM. Messages sent outside this time window will fail.

However, if you have a non-promotional account, you can send messages at any time of the day.

What happens when a customer complains when she receives a Service or a Transactional SMS?

We suggest you to maintain an opt-in database of your end customers and send service or transactional SMS only to them. To nullify the complaint raised by your customer, an explicit opt-in proof must be provided.

Can I schedule and send campaigns to my subscribers when a DND violation is under process?

No, your account will be blocked till the DND complaint is nullified. This is to ensure that the same subscriber or other subscribers do not receive any other unsolicited communication from you.

My account is currently a test account. How do I request for a promotional or non-promotional account?

To send any type of SMS to your end-customers or prospects, you will need to register your business, headers, and templates on any of the DLT platforms. Post receiving your Entity ID/Registration ID and DLT-approved headers/templates, please add these in Textlocal. Know more about the DLT registration process here.

Please write to us at support@textlocal.in or call us at 95021 95021 if you need any assistance during the registration process.

Are there any restrictions on my non-promotional account?

A non-promotional account allows you to send messages like OTPs, alerts, updates to any mobile phone at any time of the day. Further, these messages are sent from a DLT-approved header (Sender ID) of your choice to make the communication more professional and easily identifiable.

Do additional regulatory rules apply to setup an account to send stock market or trading alerts?

As per the direction from TRAI, Textlocal customers who wish to send stock market and trading alerts are required to register with SEBI / IRDA / AMFI / NCDEX / MCX. The respective registration document should be provided to us after you sign up with Textlocal. The applicable TRAI mandate can be accessed here.

What is an attachment?

An attachment is an additional file you can send as a link in a text message.

How do I attach a document to an SMS?

Within the Messenger interface, select the file that you wish to attach in the same way that you would when composing an email. Messenger will convert the file into an easily accessible link within the body of the text message. The file will be hosted securely on our servers. If the document that you wish to attach is smaller than 10MB in file size, you’re good to go. So attaching a file to an SMS message is not only easy, but requires zero IT infrastructure on your end.

When on the ‘Send SMS’ screen, click to include attachment and we will host it online for you and add the short link in your text message.

How much does it cost to send an attachment?

There is no extra cost to include in attachment to your text message

What is the maximum file size I can attach?

10MB

Will the end user be charged to download the attachment?

The end user incurs no cost to access files hosted on Textlocal, apart from the usual data charges paid towards the telecom operators.

What are the different supported file types for an attachment?

We support over 35 popular file formats including – AVI, BMP, CSV, DOC, DOCX, DOTX, GIF, JPG, MIDI, MPEG, MOV, MP3, MP4, OGG, PDF, PNG, POTX, PPSX, PPT, PPTX, QT, RA, RAM, TRF, SLDX, SVG, SWF, TIFF, TSV, TXT, VCF, WAV, XLAM, XLS, XLSB, XLSX & XLTX

Will I know who has clicked my attachments?

Yes, you can track the short link which is sent as an attachment. All the results are tracked and updated real time including mobile number, date/time, mobile device, mobile browser and custom fields.

Can I receive replies?

Yes you can. You can use your free inbox to receive replies, or setup a new inbox by purchasing a reply number of your choice. You may setup as many keyword – inboxes as you wish with dedicated reply numbers, where as a shared reply number allows you to setup one inbox on the keyword you have chosen.

How can I receive SMS online?

Using an inbound text number, you can receive text messages from your customers at no extra cost. It’s free for you to receive the message and only costs the customer their standard network cost. All messages will appear in your Messenger account, so simply log in and view at your leisure. You can also choose to automatically forward all inbound messages to you via email for free.

For more info, see the page on receiving SMS.

How do I see my received messages?

All the messages you receive online will appear in your Textlocal Messenger inbox. This inbox works just like your email inbox.

What is the cost of receiving replies?

It costs you absolutely nothing to receive a reply however the sender will be charged at their standard network rate.

What is a keyword?

A keyword is a requirement when using any kind of shared number. The message must start with the keyword so the Textlocal system can direct the message to relevant person’s inbox. Try and keep your keyword as simple as possible to avoid mistakes.

Does a Dedicated Inbound Number need a keyword?

No one other than you uses your Dedicated Inbound Number so no keyword is required, although you can create keywords within your Messenger for various SMS marketing campaigns if you wish.

Can I receive text messages as an email?

All inbound message sent to Messenger will be automatically forwarded to you via email. You can select up to 20 email addresses for the messages to be forwarded to each live inbox. This is free.

Can you forward a message I receive to my number?

Of course, we can automatically forward inbound messages to your handset. This costs 1 message credit.

What is an SMS API?

An SMS API allows the automatic sending of text messages e.g. car insurance renewal reminder texts. Textlocal API is shared for free of cost which can be integrated with your system to send real time text messages to your customers. Messages can be triggered event based, time based and can be user initiated.

How long does it take to set up?

It only takes 15 minutes to be up and running. See our Developers page to see example documentation and code examples.

How much does it cost to use the API?

The API is FREE to use. You just need to pay for the credits to send the messages.

What is a text marketing API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. In essence, an API allows for easy communication between two pieces of software; acting as a translator or go-between. In the context of text marketing, an API translates the information that you enter into a text marketing programme into a format appropriate for sending over a mobile phone network, or vice versa.

What is Email to SMS?

Email to SMS is a built in feature of Messenger which allows you to send and receive SMS from your Email application.

How can I send SMS messages from an email service?

Utilise our email to SMS gateway; it’s exceptionally easy to use. Once you or your business have an account on Textlocal Messenger, simply enable the email to SMS functionality, and address an email to the phone number of the customer that you wish to contact (i.e. 917454212212@sms.textlocal.in). Press send, and you’re sorted.

How do I set up Email to SMS?

You can set up your email address, sender names, message length and security in the Email to SMS settings within your settings tab.

What email programme do I need?

Email to SMS works with any email program.

How do I send an Email to SMS?

Simply send an email to anymobilenumber@sms.textlocal.in from your registered Textlocal accounts address. To send from other addresses simply add them as aliases on your Settings->Email to SMS settings page.

How do I stop my email signature being included?

To indicate the end of your message simply include ## and any text following this will not be included.

How much does Email to SMS cost?

Email to SMS costs the same as sending SMS from your Messenger.

Who does the message appear to come from?

You can select what you want the sender name to be by entering this in the subject field in this format: sender=YOURNAME. This is optional; if you choose to not enter anything in here your default sender name will be used.

What address do I send the email to when sending to a group?

Each group created in your Messenger has a group ID which can be found in your reports section and then Advanced Reports. To send email to SMS to this group use the address format: tlgrpXXXX@@sms.textlocal.in

What address do I send the email to when sending to a single contact?

Use the format 077XXXXXXXX@sms.textlocal.in you can add as many single contacts as you wish by adding to the ‘to’ and ‘cc’ fields and also within the body of the email.

Can people opt-out of my SMS Marketing messages?

Yes, people can opt out of your text marketing. Messenger offers multiple ways for your customer to opt-out from receiving any communication from you. You can easily embed any of the following in your text messages:

1. By texting your free keyword followed by the word STOP to your shared inbound number that we give you. E.g. if your free inbox keyword was k7db3f, your customers can send k7db3fSTOP to opt-out of all communication from you.
2. By texting in the word STOP to your Dedicated Inbound Number. If you have purchased a dedicated number from Textlocal, your customers can easily opt-out of all communication from you by texting the word STOP to any of your dedicated numbers.
3. By texting your keyword followed by STOP to your shared long number. You can simply instruct your customers to text the word stop after the keyword at no additional cost.
4. If you do not require an inbound system, then we can provide you with a specialised opt-out code for a fixed fee for a year or you can use the free, randomly generated keyword on 92205 92205 that is given to you when you open the account.

When one of your users chooses to opt-out of your SMS marketing, their phone number will be automatically removed from all your contact lists and added to your opt-out list. You can view & manage your opt-out list from the contacts > Opt-outs menu in your messenger account. This opt-out list can be exported for further use. Messenger will block any messages being sent to these numbers from your account again until the sender chooses to opt back in. If you upload any number in the opt-out list to your contact manager, the system will remove it for you.

What is myDND Manager?

myDND manager is an opt-in solution offered by Textlocal where subscribers themselves can opt to receive the messages from a particular company/entity. This opt-in can be considered as consent from the subscriber that he/she is willing to receive your messages and therefore, messages to this opt-in list will bypass the DND scrubbing.

How does myDND Manager work?

myDND manager provides an explicit opt-in path for your customers to subscribe to easily for receiving messages from you. The opt-in group properties are seamlessly applied across messenger. Wheter you send your next message via our messenger UI, API or our android / iOS app your messages will always reach your opted in customers.

As part of the myDND manager activation process you can choose a dedicated keyword of your choice which is configured on our long code 92932 92932. Customers wishing to receive your SMS will need to send the keyword to the long code for opting into the service.

To opt in, subscriber must send START to 92932 92932

To opt out, subscriber must send STOP to 92932 92932

We offer myDND manager on dedicated long codes as well. Please contact us for more details.

What is the validity of ‘subscriber opt-ins’ on myDND manager service?

The validity of an opt-in is 6 months (180 days) from the date subscriber sends in the opt-in START message. To continue to stay opted-in the subscriber will need to renew their preference once every 6 months. Timely reminders are sent to opted-in users requesting them to renew preference appropriately. Any subscriber who has not renewed her preference will be removed from the opt-in list.

Can I send messages to subscribers if they do not renew their opt-in preference?

Once a subscriber moves out of myDND manager subscription list, they will be treated as any regular number with each number filtered against the national DND list and processed as per the DND preference.

However the subscriber can opt-in at any point in time by sending the opt-in message to be included in the subscription list again.

What is the validity of myDND manager service?

myDND manager is valid till your Textlocal account is active.

What is a Mobile Web Page?

A mobile web page/ site is designed especially for the smaller screens of mobile phones. It will improve the customer experience for people visiting your page/ site on their mobile handsets.

Can I create a Mobile Web Page myself?

Yes, using the free Mobile Web Page creation tool in Messenger.

How do I send a Mobile Web Page?

You can send a link to your mobile page via SMS.

Do I have to have multiple pages?

No, you can create single pages. For example you could take an existing customer email campaign and turn it into a Mobile Web Page.

Can you create a Mobile Web Page for me?

Textlocal can create these for you, cost efficiently. Contact us for a quote.

What is the difference between a voucher, a ticket and a loyalty card?

Tickets and vouchers are for one time use only. Once the unique code has been redeemed, it cannot be redeemed again.

A loyalty card can be used multiple times; you set the rules for how many times it can be redeemed and what actions sit behind each scan.

My business doesn’t have a need to offer ‘tickets’, is there anything else that I can use this feature for?

Yes, these are unique codes that can be used for any kind of redemption. A unique code or bar code could be used for entry into an event or venue, to claim a discount on a purchase, one-time access to an online account or a unique pin number.

What will my mobile voucher, ticket or loyalty card look like?

You design this as part of the tool in your Messenger account. It’s a mobile optimised page, you add images or logo’s, colours, text, bar codes and/ or QR codes, plus any links or mail merge features.

How do I send it to my customers?

Your voucher, ticket or loyalty card is sent to your customers as a link in a text message. This can be sent directly to them or as an auto response to a short code keyword.

Do I have to create my own unique codes?

Messenger can assign unique codes to all your customers or you can upload your own unique codes if you have them.

How do my customers redeem their code?

Codes can be redeemed by either scanning the bar code or QR codes with the Textlocal app which will marry with the rules set in place in your Messenger account, or you can manually enter the code into your Messenger account or integrate it with your EPoS system.

What is Passbook?

Passbook is a built in app on all iPhones, while PassWallet is the Android alternative. It saves all mobile tickets, boarding passes, vouchers and card in one place. You can include a Passbook/ PassWallet feature in every ticket, voucher or loyalty card you create.

Do I have to include Passbook?

It’s optional, but costs no extra and gives your contacts an additional way to redeem their ticket voucher or loyalty card.

What if my customers don’t have a smart phone?

You can include the unique code for that contact in the body of the text message so they can still access the code even if they can’t click through to a mobile page. You don’t have to include a mobile page.

Can I integrate this with my EPoS/online store?

Yes, full integration is possible so tickets, vouchers and loyalty cards can be redeemed through your till system.

Will I be able to access results of who has and hasn’t redeemed?

Yes, all results are displayed in your reports and you can also download them as a CSV file. You can separately download the data for anyone who hasn’t redeemed their code yet and target them with a reminder text message.

Can I include anything else in my mobile ticket/voucher/loyalty card?

You can include any normal mail merge fields and trackable links in the text message itself or on the mobile ticket, voucher or loyalty card.

Do I set the rules for my loyalty card?

Yes, you set how many times it can be redeemed and what alerts are set after each scan, so you know what rewards are due and when.

Are the unique codes open to abuse? Can they be used more than once?

The unique codes we set for one time use are fool proof and cannot be redeemed more than once. If attempted, an error message will occur and then redemption will be declined.

My business runs offers for short periods of time, can I put a start and end date on the vouchers I send out?

Yes, you can set the expiry date and an expiry message on the first set up screen. Once you’ve completed the entire set up you choose when you want to push the ticket, voucher or loyalty card live.

What is a mobile survey?

It is an online data capture form which is designed especially for the screen of a mobile phone.

I don’t need to send feedback surveys, what else can my business use this tool for?

The tool can be used to create any kind of data capture form. This can be application forms, registration forms, questionnaires, booking forms and much more.

How much does it cost to send a mobile survey?

There are two different pricing options available. The pay-as-you-go option will cost 2 credits for every survey sent within 160 characters. The survey results are stored for 3 months from the send date. There is no other cost involved. Alternatively, you can go for a monthly contract, wherein you can send as many surveys as you like at the same cost of an SMS. The survey results are stored for as long as the contract is live. For more details on contract pricing, contact sales.

How do I send the survey to my customers?

The survey is sent via a link in a text message. On your send page, while composing your message you can add a survey link into the message by clicking on the survey icon.

Can I brand my mobile form?

Yes, you can insert images to your form, including your logo.

Can a mobile survey or form be viewed on any kind of mobile phone?

A mobile survey can be accessed from any internet enabled phone.

How will I get the responses to my survey?

Responses are collected in Messenger. They will be displayed in charts to easily digest the information and available for export to Excel.