This guide will explore the different ways you can receive SMS Message replies from your customers, including:

When using a designated long code assigned to your account to send out messages and campaigns your message recipients will have the ability to send back responses to your messages, much like when texting from your phone to a friend or family member.

Receiving Responses via Webhook

You can add one or more webhooks to the Tall Bob platform this will allow you to then have inbound messages received from your dedicated long code forwarded to an external system such as your CRM or another relevant application.

When creating your webhook ensure you select 'message_received: A response to your message was received from someone'

Retrieving Responses via API

The Tall Bob APIs provide an endpoint called List SMS Replies the endpoint will allow you to retrieve messages and optionally filter based on:

• To (the specific long code the message was received on)

• Date Range

  • before specified date

  • after specified date

You can apply a combination of filters to achieve fine-grained reporting and interrogation of the data.

In Platform Reporting

Similar to the API endpoint if you have access to the Tall Bob platform you can access historical reporting and apply similar filters to view the inbound messages received by the platform, this report can be accessed by authorised accounts here: https://app-2.tallbob.com/replies/sms

Simulating inbound SMS messages

During the development process of your integration, it may be valuable for you to simulate inbound SMS messages, you can do this by using the aptly named Create mock MO Message endpoint this endpoint takes in three values:

• Longcode - the inbound number you want to simulate the message being sent to

• Sender - the mobile number of the ‘person’ sending the SMS message

• Message - the SMS message itself

Helpful Stuff

• Looking for definitions that revolve around the Mobile, SMS and Telco Industries, then click here.

• Other helpful developer documents can be found here

If you ever need further assistance or someone to point you in the right direction you can email the team at support@tallbob.com