SMS Quick Start

Last updated: 2022-05-12

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Things to know before you begin

SMS prices changed in 2022.
Our SMS content and messaging policies will help you stay compliant.
When you are finished with this quick start, checkout our SMS Best Practices Guide.

Welcome to the RingCentral Platform. RingCentral is the leading unified communications platform. From one system developers can integrate with, or build products around all the ways people communicate today: SMS, voice, fax, chat and meetings.

In this Quick Start, we are going to help you send your first SMS on the platform in just a few minutes. Let's get started.

Create App and Get Credentials

The first thing we need to do is create an app in the RingCentral Developer Portal. This can be done quickly by clicking the "Create SMS App" button below. Just click the button, enter a name and description if you choose, and click the "Create" button. If you do not yet have a RingCentral account, you will be prompted to create one.

Create SMS App Show detailed instructions

Login or create an account if you have not done so already.
Go to Console/Apps and click 'Create App' button.
Select "REST API App" under "What type of app are you creating?" Click "Next."
Under "Authentication" select "Password-based auth flow."
Under "Security" add the following permissions:
- SMS
- ReadAccounts
Under "Security" select "This app is private and will only be callable using credentials from the same RingCentral account."

When you are done, you will be taken to the app's dashboard. Make note of the Client ID and Client Secret. We will be using those momentarily.

Download and edit a `.env` file

Follow the instructions found in our guide to running Developer Guide code samples. Or:

Download our env-template and save it as a file named .env.
Edit your newly downloaded .env file, setting its variables with the proper values for the app you created above..

Send an SMS

Select your preferred language below.

Javascript

Install RingCentral JavaScript SDK

$ npm install @ringcentral/sdk dotenv --save

Create and edit sms.js

Create a file called sms.js. Be sure the values in your .env file have been set properly, including the SMS_RECIPIENT variable.

const RC = require('@ringcentral/sdk').SDK
require('dotenv').config();

const RECIPIENT    = process.env.SMS_RECIPIENT

var rcsdk = new RC({
    'server':       process.env.RC_SERVER_URL,
    'clientId':     process.env.RC_CLIENT_ID,
    'clientSecret': process.env.RC_CLIENT_SECRET
});
var platform = rcsdk.platform();
platform.login({
    'username':  process.env.RC_USERNAME,
    'password':  process.env.RC_PASSWORD,
    'extension': process.env.RC_EXTENSION
})

platform.on(platform.events.loginSuccess, function(e){
  read_extension_phone_number()
});

async function read_extension_phone_number(){
    try {
        var resp = await platform.get("/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/phone-number")
        var jsonObj = await resp.json()
        for (var record of jsonObj.records){
            for (feature of record.features){
                if (feature == "SmsSender"){
                    return send_sms(record.phoneNumber)
                }
            }
        }
    } catch(e) {
        console.log(e.message)
        process.exit(1)
    }
}

async function send_sms(fromNumber){
    try {
        var resp = await platform.post('/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/sms', {
            from: {'phoneNumber': fromNumber},
            to: [{'phoneNumber': RECIPIENT}],
            text: 'Hello World from JavaScript'
        })
        var jsonObj = await resp.json()
        console.log("SMS sent. Message status: " + jsonObj.messageStatus)
    } catch(e) {
        console.log(e.message)
        process.exit(1)
    }
}

Run your code

You are almost done. Now run your script.

$ node sms.js

Python

Install RingCentral Python SDK

$ pip install ringcentral python-dotenv

Create and edit sms.py

Create a file called sms.py. Be sure the values in your .env file have been set properly, including the SMS_RECIPIENT variable.

#!/usr/bin/env python
from ringcentral import SDK
import os,sys
from dotenv import load_dotenv
load_dotenv()

RECIPIENT    = os.environ.get('SMS_RECIPIENT')

rcsdk = SDK( os.environ.get('RC_CLIENT_ID'),
             os.environ.get('RC_CLIENT_SECRET'),
             os.environ.get('RC_SERVER_URL') )
platform = rcsdk.platform()

try:
  platform.login(os.environ.get('RC_USERNAME'),
                 os.environ.get('RC_EXTENSION'),
                 os.environ.get('RC_PASSWORD') )
except:
  sys.exit("Unable to authenticate to platform. Check credentials.")

def read_extension_phone_number():
  try:
    resp = platform.get("/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/phone-number")
    jsonObj = resp.json()
  except e:
    sys.exit("Unable to fetch SMS-enabled phone numbers")
  for record in jsonObj.records:
    for feature in record.features:
      if feature == "SmsSender":
        return send_sms(record.phoneNumber)
  sys.exit("No SMS-enabled phone number found")

def send_sms(fromNumber):
  try:
    resp = platform.post('/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/sms',
              {
                  'from' : { 'phoneNumber': fromNumber },
                  'to'   : [ {'phoneNumber': RECIPIENT} ],
                  'text' : 'Hello World from Python'
              })
    jsonObj = resp.json()
  except:
    sys.exit("Unable to send SMS")
  print (jsonObj.messageStatus)

read_extension_phone_number()

Run your code

You are almost done. Now run your script.

$ python sms.py

PHP

Install RingCentral PHP SDK

$ curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
$ php composer.phar require ringcentral/ringcentral-php vlucas/phpdotenv

Create and edit sms.php

Create a file called sms.php. Be sure the values in your .env file have been set properly, including the SMS_RECIPIENT variable.

<?php
require('vendor/autoload.php');
$dotenv = Dotenv\Dotenv::createImmutable(__DIR__ . '/../');
$dotenv->load();

$RECIPIENT    = $_ENV['SMS_RECIPIENT'];

$rcsdk = new RingCentral\SDK\SDK( $_ENV['RC_CLIENT_ID'],
                                  $_ENV['RC_CLIENT_SECRET'],
                                  $_ENV['RC_SERVER_URL'] );
$platform = $rcsdk->platform();
$platform->login( $_ENV['RC_USERNAME'],
                  $_ENV['RC_EXTENSION'],
                  $_ENV['RC_PASSWORD'] );

read_extension_phone_number();

function read_extension_phone_number(){
  global $platform;
  $resp = $platform->get("/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/phone-number");
  $jsonObj = $resp->json();
  foreach ($resp->json()->records as $record){
    foreach ($record->features as $feature){
      if ($feature == "SmsSender"){
        return send_sms($record->phoneNumber);
      }
    }
    exit("No phone number found with 'SmsSender' feature enabled.");
  }
}
function send_sms($fromNumber){
  global $platform,$RECIPIENT;
  try {
    $resp = $platform->post('/account/~/extension/~/sms',
        array(
           'from' => array ('phoneNumber' => $fromNumber),
           'to' => array(
                    array('phoneNumber' => $RECIPIENT)
                  ),
           'text' => 'Hello World from PHP'
         ));
    print("SMS sent. Message status: " . $resp->json()->messageStatus . PHP_EOL);
  } catch (\RingCentral\SDK\Http\ApiException $e) {
    exit("Message: " . $e->message . PHP_EOL);
  }
}
?>

Run your code

You are almost done. Now run your script.

$ php sms.php

Create a Visual Studio project

Choose Console Application .Net Core -> App
Select Target Framework .NET Core 2.1
Enter project name "Send_SMS"
Add NuGet package RingCentral.Net (4.1.0) SDK

Edit the file Program.cs

Be sure to edit the variables in ALL CAPS with your app and user credentials. Be sure to also set the recipient's phone number.

using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using RingCentral;

namespace Send_SMS
{
    class Program
    {
        const string SMS_RECIPIENT = "<ENTER PHONE NUMBER>";
        static RestClient restClient;
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            restClient = new RestClient(
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_CLIENT_ID"),
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_CLIENT_SECRET"),
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_SERVER_URL"));
            restClient.Authorize(
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_USERNAME"),
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_EXTENSION"),
                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("RC_PASSWORD")).Wait();
            read_extension_phone_number().Wait();
        }
        static private async Task read_extension_phone_number()
        {
            var resp = await restClient.Restapi().Account().Extension().PhoneNumber().Get();
            foreach (var record in resp.records)
            {
                foreach(var feature in record.features)
                {
                    if (feature == "SmsSender")
                    {
                        send_sms(record.phoneNumber).Wait();
                        goto LoopEnd;
                    }
                }
            }
            LoopEnd:
            Console.WriteLine("\nDone.");
        }

        static private async Task send_sms(string fromNumber)
        {
            var parameters = new CreateSMSMessage();
            parameters.from = new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest {
                phoneNumber = fromNumber
            };
            parameters.to = new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest[] { new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest {
                    phoneNumber = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("SMS_RECIPIENT")
                } };
            parameters.text = "Hello World from C#";

            var resp = await restClient.Restapi().Account().Extension().Sms().Post(parameters);
            Console.WriteLine("SMS sent. Message status: " + resp.messageStatus);
        }
    }
}

Run Your App

You are almost done. Now run your app from Visual Studio.

Java

Create a Java project (using Eclipse IDE)

Create a new Java project
Select the Gradle Project wizard
Enter project name "Send_SMS"

Open the build.gradle file and add the RingCentral Java SDK to the project as shown below:

dependencies {
    // ...
    compile 'com.ringcentral:ringcentral:1.4.0'
}

Right-click the project in the Package Explorer and choose "Refresh Gradle Project" under the "Gradle" sub-menu

Create a new Java Class

Select "File -> New -> Class" to create a new Java class named "Send_SMS"

package SendSMSQuickStart;

public class SendSMSQuickStart {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

  }
}

Edit the file "SendSMSQuickStart.java".

Be sure to edit the variables in ALL CAPS with your app and user credentials. Be sure to also set the recipient's phone number.

package com.ringcentral;

import java.io.IOException;
import com.ringcentral.*;
import com.ringcentral.definitions.*;

public class SendSMSQuickStart {
    static String SMS_RECIPIENT = System.getenv("SMS_RECIPIENT");
    static RestClient rc;

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        var obj = new SendSMSQuickStart();
    rc = new RestClient( System.getenv("RC_CLIENT_ID"),
                 System.getenv("RC_CLIENT_SECRET"),
                 System.getenv("RC_SERVER_URL") );
    try {
        rc.authorize( System.getenv("RC_USERNAME"),
              System.getenv("RC_EXTENSION"),
              System.getenv("RC_PASSWORD") );
        obj.read_extension_phone_number();
    } catch (RestException | IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
    }

    public void read_extension_phone_number() throws RestException, IOException{
    var resp =  rc.restapi().account().extension().phoneNumber().get();
    OUTERMOST: for (var record : resp.records) {
        for(var feature : record.features) {
        if (feature.equalsIgnoreCase("SmsSender")) {
            send_sms(record.phoneNumber);
            break OUTERMOST;
        }
        }
    }
    }

    public void send_sms(String phoneNumber) throws RestException, IOException {
        CreateSMSMessage postParameters = new CreateSMSMessage();
        postParameters.from = new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest().phoneNumber(phoneNumber);
        postParameters.to = new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest[]{
        new MessageStoreCallerInfoRequest().phoneNumber(SMS_RECIPIENT)
    };
        postParameters.text = "Hello World from Java";

        var response = rc.restapi().account().extension().sms().post(postParameters);
        System.out.println("SMS sent. Message status: " + response.messageStatus);
    }
}

Run Your App

You are almost done. Now run your app from Eclipse.

Ruby

Install RingCentral Ruby SDK

$ gem install ringcentral-sdk dotenv

Create and edit sms.rb

Create a file called sms.rb. Be sure the values in your .env file have been set properly, including the SMS_RECIPIENT variable.

require 'ringcentral'
require 'dotenv/load'

RECIPIENT    = ENV['SMS_RECIPIENT']

$rc = RingCentral.new( ENV['RC_CLIENT_ID'],
                       ENV['RC_CLIENRT_SECRET'],
                       ENV['RC_SERVER_URL'] )

$rc.authorize( username: ENV['RC_USERNAME'],
               extension: ENV['RC_EXTENSION'],
               password: ENV['RC_PASSWORD'] )

def read_extension_phone_number()
  resp = $rc.get('/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/phone-number')
  for record in resp.body['records'] do
    for feature in record['features'] do
      if feature == "SmsSender"
        return send_sms(record['phoneNumber'])
      end
    end
  end
end

def send_sms(phoneNumber)
  resp = $rc.post('/restapi/v1.0/account/~/extension/~/sms', payload: {
        from: {phoneNumber: phoneNumber},
        to: [{phoneNumber: RECIPIENT}],
        text: 'Hello World from Ruby'
    })

  puts "SMS sent. Message status: " + resp.body['messageStatus']
end

read_extension_phone_number()

Run your code

You are almost done. Now run your script.

$ ruby sms.rb

Need Help?

Having difficulty? Feeling frustrated? Receiving an error you don't understand? Our community is here to help and may already have found an answer. Search our community forums, and if you don't find an answer please ask!

Search the forums »

What's Next?

When you have successfully made your first API call, it is time to take your next step towards building a more robust RingCentral application.

Take your next step »

SMS Quick Start

Create App and Get Credentials

Download and edit a .env file

Send an SMS

Install RingCentral JavaScript SDK

Create and edit sms.js

Run your code

Install RingCentral Python SDK

Create and edit sms.py

Run your code

Install RingCentral PHP SDK

Create and edit sms.php

Run your code

Create a Visual Studio project

Edit the file Program.cs

Run Your App

Create a Java project (using Eclipse IDE)

Create a new Java Class

Edit the file "SendSMSQuickStart.java".

Run Your App

Install RingCentral Ruby SDK

Create and edit sms.rb

Run your code

Need Help?

What's Next?

Download and edit a `.env` file