Signal & Syntax · Messaging and A2P

What Is an SMS Gateway?

An SMS gateway connects software to mobile networks for sending and receiving SMS. Applications reach the gateway over an HTTP API or SMPP.

Also calledSMS API gateway

SMS Gateway in Practice

The gateway turns an API call into network traffic for an SMSC or an aggregator. Delivery receipts flow back the same way. Gateways add queuing, retries and number formatting. A gateway sends every number submitted, valid or not.

Related Terms

SMPP SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) is the open protocol linking an SMSC to external systems over TCP/IP. SMS aggregator An SMS aggregator connects to a large set of operators and resells SMS routes. SMSC An SMSC (Short Message Service Center) stores and forwards SMS. CPaaS CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) sells SMS, voice and messaging as cloud APIs.

Read the Guide

Guide

How A2P SMS Reaches a Handset

The path from an API call to a delivery receipt. Read the guide →

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