Virtual Number

1. Virtual Number:

A Virtual Number is a 10 Digit Mobile Number (sometimes also called a Longcode Number) to which your clients or members can send an SMS starting with a keyword. 

You will be able to receive the messages in your MSG91 inbox, on your email, and also on your callback URL. You will also be able to set an auto-reply SMS to all the numbers from which you have received responses. Now if you want to send the reply SMS after some calculation on the text received from your client, you will need to integrate the SMS API in your software which will shoot your SMS after the calculation.

For eg. in Kaun Banega Crorepati, you are supposed to send an SMS to 56565 with KBC<SPACE>A/B/C/D

2. Keyword:

If someone sends an SMS starting with your keyword, you will be able to receive the messages in your MSG91 inbox, on your email, or also on your callback URL. So KBC is the keyword. You can choose any keyword for yourself.

You can also set an automatic reply for the SMS you receive. 

A keyword of 6 or more than 6 characters would be free of cost. Other than that the pricing would be as follows:

5 Character: 1,000 Rupees

4 Character: 2,000 Rupees

3 Character: 3,000 Rupees

2 Character: 4,000 Rupees

1 Character : 5,000 Rupees

3. Inbox Balance: 

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That is the number of SMS you can receive in your Inbox. You need to purchase the inbox balance so as to receive the SMS your customer is sending to you.

Shared Long-Code is the common number for a group of people. For MSG91 the shared Long-Code is 9229224424/6262642222. Using this number will be free of cost, you will be charged only for the incoming SMS. Incoming SMS is differentiated by keyword, and hence your keyword must be unique.

Dedicated Long -Code will be 10 digits mobile number of your choice. There will be a one-time set-up cost for the new mobile number. The keyword can be of your choice as the incoming SMS are differentiated by the mobile number in this case.

Longcode is a Virtual Number hosted by the Telecom Operators and can be used to receive responses from the mobile subscribers (consumers / end-users).
Some common use cases includes, voting, gathering feedback, placing orders etc.

The message received from the subscriber is send to the required URL of the Company along with timestamp and other necessary details.

Every Country has their own rules for Longcode numbers where some Countries only allow incoming SMS only on Longcode number and some Countries allow 2-way communication from the same number. Additionally, the pricing also varies for each Country.

How to subscribe the Longcode number?

To activate Longcode number services:

1. Go to Numbers on MSG91 Dashboard

2. Click on Upgrade on left bottom corner

3. Select plan and choose Longcode number based on your requirement

For the integration please click on the Edit button and the page will be open.

If you want to add any callback url please click on the Add Callback button.

Here you can add the Keywords, Webhook Url of your choice and click on save button

If you want to receive the Incoming SMS on Hello you can enable this toggle please be informed that incoming is not available for the Indian longcode number.

​To check the logs please go to the Logs section:

For checking the reports please go to the Reports section:

Note: 2-way communication is only available for international long code number.

You can send a personalized SMS to all the numbers who send an SMS to your Longcode number.

1. You need to put in a callback URL in our webhook on which we will push the data of the SMS received from the client.

2. You can fetch the data and store it from that URL and integrate an API to customize your SMS according to the SMS received.

P.S. You can learn how to set a callback URL from the link mentioned below:

When someone sends an SMS on your keyword and you aren't receiving it, there can be three main reasons behind this situation:

1. In case, your inbox balance is zero, you'll not receive messages through the keyword.

2. If your inbox balance is not zero and still you are not receiving the message, the reason behind this is that the expiry date of your inbox has passed and you need to get it extended by contacting our support team.

3. Other than the above reasons, one more reason is if the format of the keyword is not correct, you might not receive messages in this case.