What is an SMS API? Sending SMS from Applications

Now that communication and interaction have proven to be the vehicle that will drive our civilization to the next level (just look at the internet), communication has to go beyond human interaction. Computers, the miracle of our age, also need to talk to each other.

A lot of computer programs rely on other independent programs to complete their processes. This is one reason why we have API (Application Programming Interface). It allows one program to use the functions of another program. This miracle of communication is what we use at HollaTags to give your applications SMS sending capabilities.

Our SMS API allows your application to send messages via our SMS gateway. You can send automated bulk messages from your platform through the HollaTags SMS gateway with our robust API. One amazing thing about our SMS API is that you can interact with it in almost any programming language you are working with- PHP, C#, Python, C++, Javascript and the list goes on.

The use cases for our SMS API are quite numerous. They range from sending sales and promo notifications and receipts for eCommerce businesses, to sending alerts for financial service customers and sending results and pupil updates for schools. The event invites and updates, one time passwords and security verification messages can also be sent using the SMS API. You can think of just about anything that has to do with sending text messages using an application, and our SMS API will fix you.

Why Use SMS?

You are thinking, there’s email, there are desktop notifications, why use SMS in this day and age? Well, SMS is still a winner for the following reasons-

Easy

SMS as a channel of communication is easy. Especially when you do not have much to say. In a few uncomplicated sentences, and within a few minutes your message is composed and sent.

Opened immediately

How long does it take before you read your new text? If you are like most other people, you read text messages within two minutes of receiving it. What better way to communicate with people instantly? It is why SMS is the choice channel for alerts and other important notifications.

Costs little

If you are using it for marketing, whether directly or indirectly, then you will realise that SMS marketing costs less for the value it promises. You can reach a huge number of people instantly on your own terms.

Amazing Open Rates

Almost every sent text message is read. This fact is what makes SMS the best way to communicate. Everyone reads their text. Ignore emails, block desktop notifications, avoid calls but you still read your SMS. Figures floating around range from 90 to 98% open rates for SMS compared to emails with less than 30% open rates.

Wider Reach

In Nigeria, a sizeable chunk of phone users do not use internet-enabled devices. There are also those who do have internet enabled devices but do not have constant access to the internet. SMS can reach anyone with a mobile phone, whatever the kind of phone, with or without internet.

You can speak to your customers anywhere in the world using SMS over our Tier 1 direct connections. Our enterprise SMS API gives you the power to reach your customers where they are and when you want. With HollaTags, you get high-performance enterprise SMS technology with both ShortCode and LongCode capabilities.