🔹 Managing Your Messaging Identity
The Text Numbers module is your central control panel for all the phone numbers associated with your account. Here, you can manage your existing numbers, acquire new ones, configure their settings (like call forwarding), ensure compliance, and understand how they're used across your campaigns.
1. Accessing the Text Numbers Module
To access the Text Numbers module:
- Log in to your account Dashboard.
- From the left-hand navigation menu, click on "Text Numbers".
- A dropdown menu will appear, displaying various sub-sections. The default view will typically be "Manage Text Numbers".
- Click on "# Manage Text Numbers..." to view your current numbers.
2. Understanding the "Manage Text Numbers" Interface
This screen provides a comprehensive list of all the texting numbers(If you have multiple numbers) assigned to your account, along with their key details and management options.
- Country Filter: At the top, you can filter your numbers by their country (e.g., "USA", "Canada").
- Filter By Text Number: A search box to quickly find a specific number by typing part or all of it.
- ADD + Button: Click this to initiate the process of adding a new text number to your account.
- Search Bar: A general search function to filter the list by various criteria displayed in the columns.
- Table Columns:
- COUNTRY: The country where the text number is provisioned.
- TEXT NUMBER: The actual phone number assigned to your account.
- NAME: A customizable, internal name for your number (e.g., "Main Line", "Marketing Dept", "Support Hotline"). This helps you identify its purpose quickly.
- To edit the name, click the pencil icon next to the current name. Type in the new name and click the disk icon (save) to confirm.
- TYPE: Indicates the nature of the number (e.g., "Dedicated" for a number exclusively assigned to you, "Trial TF Number - TL" for a trial toll-free number).
- CALL FORWARDING: Shows the status of call forwarding for this number.
- Toggle Switch: Use this switch to turn call forwarding ON or OFF for the respective number.
- Forwarding Number: If call forwarding is ON, the number to which calls are being forwarded will be displayed. This allows incoming voice calls to your texting number to be routed to a standard phone line.
- ACTIONS: Provides critical management options for each number:
- RELEASE NUMBER: Click this to permanently release the number from your account. Use with caution, as this action cannot be undone and you may not be able to re-acquire the same number.
- REPLACE NUMBER: Click this to request a replacement for the current number. This is useful if a number is experiencing issues or you simply need a different one.
3. Key Actions and Features within "Manage Text Numbers"
- Adding New Numbers: While the "ADD +" button initiates the process, the actual selection and acquisition of new dedicated numbers are typically handled under the "Add Dedicated Num..." sub-section (see below).
- Editing Number Names: Use the pencil icon to give your numbers meaningful names for easy identification.
- Configuring Call Forwarding: Decide if you want incoming voice calls to your texting number to be routed to another phone line. This is particularly useful for dedicated numbers where you might want to receive voice calls as well as texts.
- Releasing Numbers: When a number is no longer needed, you can release it. Ensure all active campaigns or services are migrated before releasing.
- Replacing Numbers: If a number is underperforming or you need a change, you can request a replacement directly from this interface.
4. Other Sub-Sections within "Text Numbers" Module
The "Text Numbers" module typically includes other vital sections to manage different aspects of your numbers:
- Number Mapping:
- Purpose: The Number Mapping feature allows you to associate country-specific sender IDs (either local numbers or alphanumeric sender IDs) with your primary text number. This ensures your international messages are sent using a local, compliant sender ID while still centralizing replies and workflows through your U.S.-based number.
- Common Use: If you're sending messages to multiple countries from your assigned local number, the number mapping ensure messages are sent from mapped country specific local number.
- Add Dedicated Number
- Purpose: This is where you can acquire new dedicated text numbers for your account. Dedicated numbers offer better control, improved deliverability, and stronger brand identity compared to shared numbers.
- Common Use: Expanding your reach with new local or toll-free numbers, or acquiring 10-Digit Long Codes (10DLC) for high-volume A2P messaging.
- 10DLC:
- Purpose: Dedicated to managing your 10-Digit Long Code (10DLC) registration and compliance. 10DLC is a system used in the US for A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging over standard local phone numbers, requiring businesses to register their brand and campaign use cases.
- Common Use: Ensuring your business messaging is compliant with carrier regulations to avoid message filtering or blocking, and to achieve higher throughput and deliverability.
- Text Enable Landline:
- Purpose: This feature allows you to "text-enable" an existing landline or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone number that you already own. This means you can send and receive text messages through your business texting platform using a number your customers already recognize for voice calls.
- Common Use: Providing a unified communication channel without needing to manage a separate mobile number for texting, enhancing customer convenience.
By leveraging all features within the Text Numbers module, you can maintain full control over your messaging identity, ensure compliance, and optimize your communication strategy.