Twilio Integration

Send SMS messages and voice calls through Twilio with NotiGrid.

Overview

Twilio provides reliable SMS and voice communication APIs that integrate seamlessly with NotiGrid.

Supported Features:

SMS messages
MMS (multimedia messages)
Voice calls
WhatsApp Business messages (if enabled on your Twilio account)

Prerequisites

Twilio account (Sign up here)
Phone number from Twilio
NotiGrid account

Setup Instructions

1. Create Twilio Account

Go to twilio.com/try-twilio
Sign up for a free account
Complete phone verification
Answer the onboarding questions

2. Get Your Account Credentials

Log in to Twilio Console
From the dashboard, locate:
- Account SID - Your unique account identifier
- Auth Token - Click "Show" to reveal (keep this secret!)
Copy both values - you'll need them for NotiGrid

3. Get a Phone Number

Option A: Trial Phone Number (Free)

Your trial account comes with a free number:

Go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Active numbers
You'll see your trial number listed

Trial Limitations:

Can only send to verified phone numbers
Messages include "Sent from your Twilio trial account" prefix
Limited features

Option B: Purchase a Phone Number (Recommended)

Go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Buy a number
Select your country
Choose number capabilities:
- ☑ SMS - For text messages
- ☑ MMS - For multimedia messages
- ☑ Voice - For voice calls
Search and select a number
Click Buy (~$1-2/month depending on country)

4. Verify Phone Numbers (Trial Only)

If using a trial account, verify recipient numbers:

Go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Verified Caller IDs
Click + Add a new number
Enter the phone number
Choose verification method (SMS or call)
Enter the verification code

5. Configure in NotiGrid

Log in to NotiGrid dashboard
Navigate to Channels → SMS → Twilio
Click Add Twilio Account
Enter your credentials:
- Account Name: "Production Twilio" (or any name)
- Account SID: From step 2
- Auth Token: From step 2
- From Phone Number: Your Twilio number (e.g., +1234567890)
Click Save & Test Connection

Sending Notifications

SMS Messages

Via NotiGrid Dashboard

Go to Notifications → Send
Select SMS channel
Choose Twilio as provider
Enter recipient number (E.164 format: +1234567890)
Type your message
Click Send

Via API

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "channel": "sms",
    "to": "+1234567890",
    "body": "Your verification code is: 123456"
  }'

MMS Messages (With Media)

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "channel": "sms",
    "to": "+1234567890",
    "body": "Check out our new product!",
    "metadata": {
      "mediaUrl": "https://example.com/image.jpg"
    }
  }'

Voice Calls

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "channel": "voice",
    "to": "+1234567890",
    "body": "Hello! This is an automated call from NotiGrid.",
    "metadata": {
      "voice": "alice",
      "language": "en-US"
    }
  }'

Message Templates

SMS Template

{
  "name": "verification-code",
  "channel": "sms",
  "body": "Your {{app_name}} verification code is: {{code}}. This code expires in {{expires_in}} minutes."
}

Usage:

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template": "verification-code",
    "to": "+1234567890",
    "data": {
      "app_name": "NotiGrid",
      "code": "123456",
      "expires_in": "10"
    }
  }'

Order Status Template

{
  "name": "order-shipped",
  "channel": "sms",
  "body": "Great news! Your order #{{order_id}} has shipped. Track it here: {{tracking_url}}"
}

Advanced Features

Delivery Status Callbacks

Get notified when messages are delivered:

In NotiGrid dashboard, go to Settings → Webhooks
Add your webhook URL for delivery status
NotiGrid will send POST requests with delivery updates:

{
  "event": "message.delivered",
  "messageId": "msg_123456",
  "to": "+1234567890",
  "status": "delivered",
  "timestamp": "2025-01-16T10:30:00Z"
}

Message Segments

SMS messages are charged per segment:

Standard (GSM-7): 160 characters per segment
Unicode: 70 characters per segment
Concatenated: Overhead reduces per-segment count

Example:

150 characters = 1 segment
165 characters = 2 segments
320 characters = 3 segments

Tips to reduce segments:

Avoid emojis (use Unicode)
Avoid special characters when possible
Use URL shorteners for long links

Sender ID (Alpha Sender)

Available in some countries (UK, parts of Europe, Asia):

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "channel": "sms",
    "to": "+447700900000",
    "body": "Hello from MyBrand!",
    "metadata": {
      "from": "MyBrand"
    }
  }'

Note: Not supported in US/Canada.

Short Codes

For high-volume SMS (requires separate application):

Apply for short code through Twilio
Complete carrier approval (4-12 weeks)
Configure in NotiGrid
Use for promotional campaigns

Phone Number Types

Long Code (Standard)

Format: Regular 10-digit number (+1234567890)
Use case: P2P messaging, transactional SMS
Throughput: 1 message per second
Cost: ~$1-2/month

Toll-Free Numbers

Format: +1 (8XX) XXX-XXXX
Use case: Business messaging, customer support
Throughput: Higher than long code
Cost: ~$2-5/month
Verification required for A2P messaging

Short Codes

Format: 5-6 digits (e.g., 12345)
Use case: Marketing, high-volume
Throughput: Up to 100 messages per second
Cost: ~$1,000-1,500/month

WhatsApp Business API

If you have WhatsApp Business enabled:

Setup

Apply for WhatsApp Business access through Twilio
Get your WhatsApp number approved
Configure in NotiGrid

Send WhatsApp Message

curl -X POST https://api.notigrid.com/v1/notifications \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "channel": "whatsapp",
    "to": "+1234567890",
    "body": "Hello from NotiGrid!",
    "metadata": {
      "from": "whatsapp:+1234567890"
    }
  }'