How to Send Text Messages Programmatically with textbee: SMS API Guide

Sending SMS messages programmatically is essential for modern applications. Whether you need to send notifications, verification codes, or alerts, textbee.dev provides a simple and cost-effective solution using your Android device as an SMS gateway.

Why Use textbee for SMS?

textbee.dev turns your Android phone into a powerful SMS gateway without requiring expensive SMS API services or telecom contracts. You can send SMS messages directly from your applications using a straightforward REST API.

Key benefits:

• Cost-effective: No per-message fees from third-party providers
• Easy integration: Simple REST API works with any programming language
• Private and secure: Your messages stay on your devices
• Open source: Full transparency with code available on GitHub

Getting Started

Step 1: Install the textbee App

First, download and install the textbee Android app on your device. You can download it from our download page.

Step 2: Get Your API Credentials

Once you've set up your device in the textbee app, you'll receive:

• Device ID: Unique identifier for your Android device
• API Key: Authentication key for API requests

Step 3: Send Your First SMS

Now let's look at how to send SMS messages using textbee's API.

Code Examples

JavaScript/Node.js

const axios = require('axios');

const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';

async function sendSMS(recipient, message) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      'https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms',
      {
        recipients: [recipient],
        message: message
      },
      {
        headers: {
          'x-api-key': API_KEY,
          'Content-Type': 'application/json'
        }
      }
    );
    
    console.log('SMS sent successfully:', response.data);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending SMS:', error.response?.data || error.message);
    throw error;
  }
}

// Usage
sendSMS('+1234567890', 'Hello from textbee!');

Python

import requests

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"

def send_sms(recipient, message):
    url = "https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms"
    headers = {
        "x-api-key": API_KEY,
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    payload = {
        "recipients": [recipient],
        "message": message
    }
    
    response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
    response.raise_for_status()
    return response.json()

# Usage
send_sms("+1234567890", "Hello from textbee!")

For a full walkthrough, see the Python SMS gateway guide.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "recipients": ["+1234567890"],
    "message": "Hello from textbee!"
  }'

Sending to Multiple Recipients

You can send the same message to multiple recipients in a single API call:

await axios.post(
  'https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms',
  {
    recipients: ['+1234567890', '+0987654321', '+1122334455'],
    message: 'Bulk notification: Important update for all users!'
  },
  {
    headers: {
      'x-api-key': API_KEY,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    }
  }
);

Best Practices

1. Store credentials securely: Never commit API keys to version control. Use environment variables or secure configuration management.

2. Validate phone numbers: Ensure phone numbers are in the correct format (E.164 format recommended: +1234567890).

3. Handle rate limits: Implement rate limiting to avoid overwhelming your device.

4. Monitor delivery: Check your textbee.dev dashboard to monitor the delivery status of your messages.

5. Use templates for common messages: Consider creating reusable message templates for frequently sent content.

Next Steps

Now that you know how to send SMS programmatically with textbee, you can:

• Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) in your applications
• Send order confirmations and shipping notifications
• Implement alert systems for your services
• Create automated notification workflows

Check out our use cases page for more inspiration, or explore our quickstart guide for additional integration examples.