SMS-Enabled Numbers & Hosted Messaging
Let customers text the number they already call - text-enable existing landline and toll-free numbers, host SMS on ported numbers and run two-way long-code messaging in 60+ countries without touching your voice service.
60+
Countries with two-way SMS
1–3 days
To text-enable a US number
800+
Operator connections
What is SMS-Enabled Numbers & Hosted Messaging?
Most businesses already have phone numbers their customers know - the main office line, a toll-free support number, a branch number printed on signage. Hosted messaging lets those numbers send and receive SMS, and MMS in the US and Canada, without changing who provides the voice service. Dollu registers the number in the relevant messaging routing registry, points its SMS route to our platform and hands you a two-way channel through our API, SMPP or a web inbox, while calls continue to flow to your existing carrier or PBX exactly as before.
In the United States, landline and VoIP numbers are text-enabled through the industry override registry that carriers consult for SMS routing, and toll-free numbers through the toll-free messaging registry, with use-case verification so traffic is not filtered. Enablement typically completes in one to three business days after we receive a signed letter of authorisation from the number owner. In Canada, the UK, much of Europe, India, Australia and other markets we text-enable numbers or supply local long codes and virtual mobile numbers wherever the operators support two-way application traffic on that number type.
Numbers you port to Dollu for voice can carry their SMS route with them, and numbers you keep with another carrier for voice can still have their messaging hosted here, so you are never forced into a single-vendor decision. Long codes and virtual mobile numbers are available outright in 60+ countries for conversational use cases - customer support, appointment confirmation, sales follow-up, notifications with reply handling - and pair with our 10DLC registration service in the US where application traffic requires it.
Everything arrives in one place: inbound messages via webhook, SMPP bind or the Dollu inbox; outbound via REST API, SMPP or integrations with common CRM and help-desk tools; delivery receipts, concatenation, Unicode and opt-out handling included. Number-level analytics show sent, delivered, replied and opted-out counts, and the same portal manages your voice numbers, short codes and messaging campaigns, so a single team can operate the whole estate on one invoice.
Why choose Dollu for sms-enabled numbers.
The advantages of buying from a carrier that owns its network, interconnects and operations - rather than a reseller.
Use the number customers already know
No new number to publish or explain. The line on your website, invoices and shopfront starts accepting texts, and replies come from the same number customers call.
No disruption to voice
Text-enablement changes only the SMS route. Your voice carrier, PBX, call routing and contracts are untouched, and the change can be reversed if you ever need it.
Real conversations, not one-way blasts
Two-way messaging with keyword routing, auto-replies and a shared inbox turns support, scheduling and sales follow-up into threads your team can actually manage.
Global reach from one platform
Text-enabled numbers, long codes and virtual mobile numbers in 60+ countries on the same API and portal, delivered over 800+ operator connections.
Fast to launch
Most US numbers are live for SMS within three business days of a signed LOA; long codes in stock markets are provisioned the same day.
Capabilities in detail.
Everything included with SMS-Enabled Numbers & Hosted Messaging - the platform features, options and controls you get from day one.
- 01
Landline and VoIP text-enablement
Registration of existing US and Canadian landline and VoIP numbers for SMS and MMS routing to Dollu, with eligibility checks up front and no change to voice service.
- 02
Toll-free SMS and MMS
Text-enable 8XX numbers with use-case verification, high default throughput and nationwide reach across US and Canadian carriers, ideal for support and notification lines.
- 03
Hosted SMS on ported numbers
Bring the messaging route with numbers you port to Dollu for voice, or host messaging only on numbers whose voice stays elsewhere; both are managed from the same inventory.
- 04
International long codes and virtual mobile numbers
Two-way local numbers in 60+ countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East, with per-country guidance on sender-ID and consent rules.
- 05
Two-way inbox and routing
Shared web inbox with assignment and notes, keyword and auto-reply rules, business-hours responders and routing of inbound messages to webhooks or SMPP binds.
- 06
API and integrations
REST SMS API, SMPP 3.4, webhooks for inbound and delivery receipts, and connectors for common CRM and help-desk tools so texts land in the tools your team already uses.
- 07
Compliance and consent
Automatic STOP, HELP and START handling, consent capture, quiet-hours settings, toll-free verification and 10DLC campaign registration where US application traffic requires it.
- 08
Analytics and reporting
Per-number sent, delivered, replied and opt-out counts, delivery receipts, response-time metrics for the inbox and exportable reports for each team or location.
How it works.
From first conversation to live traffic - a tracked, engineer-led onboarding with a named owner at every step.
- Step 01
Check eligibility
Submit your numbers in the portal or via API. We check whether each can be text-enabled in its country and number type and confirm any registration or verification needed.
- Step 02
Authorise
You sign a letter of authorisation as the number owner; for toll-free we complete use-case verification and for US application traffic we register a 10DLC campaign where required.
- Step 03
Enable and connect
The SMS route is pointed to Dollu, webhooks, SMPP binds or the inbox are configured, and test messages confirm two-way delivery on each number.
- Step 04
Message and measure
Your team starts texting from the numbers customers already know, with delivery receipts, opt-out handling and per-number analytics from day one.
Which number type fits.
Local, national, mobile, toll-free and short code numbers solve different problems - and carry different KYC and activation profiles. Availability by country is on the coverage matrix.
| Dimension | Local / geographic | National | Mobile | Toll-free | Short code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Local presence, contact-centre inbound, outbound caller ID | Country-wide brand number without a city tie | Two-way SMS, WhatsApp and verification, mobile-first markets | Sales and service lines the caller should not pay for | High-volume A2P SMS, OTP and marketing opt-in |
| KYC burden | Low to medium; a local address is required in some countries | Low; company registration is usually enough | Medium to high; enhanced KYC and limited stock | Medium; a local entity in some countries | High; operator and regulator approval per code |
| SMS-capable | In selected countries (for example US, Canada, UK) | Rarely | Yes - two-way | In selected countries (US and Canada toll-free SMS) | Yes - the primary purpose |
| Caller pays? | Yes, at local rate | Yes, at national or geographic rate | Yes, at mobile rate | No - the number holder pays for inbound | Not applicable; inbound SMS charged at the sender’s standard rate |
| Activation time | Same day to a few days after KYC approval | Same day to a few days | Days; stock-dependent | Days; regulator registration in some countries | Weeks; carrier approval per country |
Who uses this and why.
Typical deployments across carriers, enterprises, platforms and contact centres.
Customer support and help desks
Let customers text the support number instead of waiting on hold, with conversations routed to agents in a shared inbox or your help-desk tool.
Appointment reminders and confirmations
Clinics, salons and service businesses that send reminders from their main line and let customers confirm or reschedule by reply.
Retail and multi-location businesses
Each store or branch texts from its own local number for stock enquiries, order-ready notices and click-and-collect updates.
Field service and dispatch
Technicians and dispatch desks exchange arrival windows, access instructions and job updates with customers on the number they were given.
Sales and lead follow-up
Sales teams follow up web enquiries and quotes by text from the office number, with replies tracked against the lead in the CRM.
Technical & commercial specifications.
Key parameters at a glance. Ask us for the full service description and SLA document.
| Number types | Landline, VoIP, toll-free (US/CA); long codes and virtual mobile numbers |
|---|---|
| Markets | US and Canada text-enablement; two-way numbers in 60+ countries |
| Enablement time | US: 1–3 business days after LOA; stock long codes same day |
| Channels | SMS worldwide; MMS on US and Canadian numbers |
| Interfaces | REST API, SMPP 3.4, webhooks, web inbox, CRM/help-desk connectors |
| Message features | Two-way, concatenation, Unicode, delivery receipts, keywords |
| Throughput | Toll-free and long codes per carrier limits; 10DLC per campaign tier |
| Compliance | STOP/HELP handling, consent capture, toll-free verification, 10DLC |
| Support | 24×7 NOC; number desk; named account manager |
How Numbers & DIDs are priced.
Numbers carry a per-number monthly rental set by country and type - local, national, mobile or toll-free - plus per-minute inbound usage. A few countries add a one-time setup or regulatory fee, passed through at cost.
We publish the model, not a public rate card - actual rates depend on destination, route class, volume and regulatory cost. See how every Dollu service is priced.
- Rental per number by country and number type
- Inbound usage per minute; toll-free usage by calling origin
- Bulk and committed-inventory discounts
- Porting priced per number or per project
- Free SIP delivery to your endpoint; no channel fees
- Billing
- Rental invoiced monthly in advance, usage in arrears; prepaid or postpaid
- Commitment
- None on standard inventory; committed inventory earns discounts
Numbers in 110+ countries.
Local numbers in 100+ countries, with national, mobile, toll-free and short-code ranges where the numbering plan allows. The countries below have a full guide - KYC, number types and activation times.
- Australia5/5
- Brazil4/5
- Canada3/5
- France5/5
- Germany5/5
- Hong Kong4/5
- India4/5
- Mexico3/5
- Netherlands5/5
- Philippines3/5
- Saudi Arabia4/5
- Singapore4/5
- South Africa5/5
- United Arab Emirates4/5
- United Kingdom5/5
- United States3/5
The figure on each chip is the number of types available out of those listed for the country; the remainder are on request.
SMS-Enabled Numbers - your questions answered.
The questions customers and carriers ask us most often before they interconnect. If yours is not here, our team answers within one business day.
Still have a question?
Ask our solutions teamRelated services.
Services customers commonly combine with SMS-Enabled Numbers & Hosted Messaging.
Text-enable your business numbers.
Send us the numbers you want to text-enable and we will confirm eligibility per number and return an LOA for signature within one business day.
