Get started with resources and numbers

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Buy a phone number for instant messaging or register a sender for one-way SMS. Choose your path based on speed, cost, and use case.

NOTE

If you need to send SMS/MMS in the United States, see USA Sender Registration for complete guidance on 10DLC, short codes, and toll-free numbers, including brand registration and campaign approval requirements.

Prerequisites

You need:

Active Infobip account with SMS channel enabled
Clear understanding of which resource type you need (see Resources and numbers overview for guidance)

Choose your path

Select the fastest option for your use case:

Path	Resource type	Speed	Cost	Best for
Buy phone number	Virtual long number	Instant	Low	SMS, MMS, Voice, WhatsApp (most channels)
Register alphanumeric sender	Alphanumeric sender	1-3 days approval	Lower	One-way SMS notifications and campaigns

Path 1: Buy a phone number

The fastest way to get started. Purchase a virtual long number and start sending immediately (no approval needed).

Log in to your Infobip account and go to Channels and numbers > Numbers.
Select Buy number.
Select your destination country, then select the Number capability you need (SMS, MMS, and Voice).
Select from available number types: VLN (Virtual long number) (most flexible and affordable), Short code (5-6 digit premium number), Toll-free (800/888 number), or 10DLC (US only).
Review available offers and select one. Provide any additional required information (country-specific compliance data, company details), set the quantity, and select Order now.

NOTE

If you select United States as your country, you see 10DLC, Short Code, and Toll-Free options. All USA numbers require brand and campaign registration before you can send traffic. See USA Sender Registration for complete setup guidance.

After you submit your order, the request is sent to the Infobip internal team to complete the purchase, brand verification (if applicable), and provisioning.

You receive an email confirmation when the order is completed. Track the status of your request under Channels and numbers > My requests.

You can request a phone number through either the Numbers API or the Resource Request API.

Use the Numbers API when you need to browse or select specific numbers before purchase. This is useful when the exact number matters to your use case.

Use the Resource Request API when you want a simpler request flow and do not need to choose the exact number in advance.

If both APIs support your use case, prefer the option that matches your workflow and configuration needs.

API	Best when	Notes
Numbers API	You need to choose specific numbers	Better for workflows where the exact number matters
Resource Request API	You only need to request a number type	Simpler flow when number selection is not the main requirement

For details and examples, see Request resources through API.

Learn more

For details on number types and capabilities, see Numbers.

Path 2: Register alphanumeric sender

Request a custom sender name for one-way SMS campaigns (approval required, typically 1-3 business days).

Use alphanumeric senders when:

Sending one-way notifications or alerts (no customer replies needed)
Wanting a branded sender name instead of a phone number
Operating at lower volume with lower costs

Request process [#request-process-path-2-register-alphanumeric-sender]

Go to the SMS channel
Log in to your Infobip account and go to Channels and numbers > Channels > SMS.

Request sender ID
Select Request sender and provide your desired sender ID (3-11 alphanumeric characters, for example, "ACME" or "Alerts").

Provide details
Fill in the required information:

Sender and use case: Use case description, message example
Business information: Company name, tax code, address, website
Regional requirements (depending on country): Traffic type (transactional or promotional), traffic origin (local or international), Letter of Authorization (some countries)
Optional: Application and entity connection, additional contact email, additional comments

When you select a country, the form adjusts dynamically to show country-specific requirements.

Submit and wait for activation
Submit your request. Infobip reviews it (typically 1-3 business days). You receive an email notification when activated.

NOTE

There may be a charge for each alphanumeric sender request depending on your country. You are notified about any charges during the registration process.

Learn more

For details on alphanumeric senders and availability by country, see Alphanumeric senders.

Start sending messages

Once you have your number or alphanumeric sender active, you can send messages.

Log in to your Infobip account.
Go to Broadcast and choose SMS.
Define your recipients (upload list, manual entry, or segment).
Select your number or alphanumeric sender.
Enter message content.
Select Continue to preview.
Review and select Launch.

Related pages

Send SMS
Use your number or alphanumeric sender to send messages through API or web interface.

Numbers
Virtual long numbers, short codes, toll-free, and 10DLC details.

Configure inbound routing
Set up keywords and actions for customer replies.

Request resources through API
Automated resource requests for programmatic workflows.