Choose and set up SMS sender
Choosing the right SMS sender is critical for successful message delivery across different regions. Different countries have unique requirements that affect delivery rates and compliance. Always check our developer documentation for specific country regulations and requirements.
Watch the video tutorial below to learn how to set up SMS senders in Bird, including:
Purchasing long-code national, local, mobile and toll-free numbers (e.g., +1-555-123-4567)
Requesting Short-code numbers (e.g., 555-1234)
Applying for Alphanumeric senders (e.g., 1800-Bird)
Step 1: Determine your target region
Consider where your recipients are located.
For North American countries (US/Canada), you must use two-way SMS numbers.
For countries outside North America, use one-way Alphanumeric senders.
Step 2: Buy a phone number (local, mobile, national, tollfree)
Navigate to Numbers, then Phone numbers
Click "Buy a number" in the top right.
Use the filter to:
Choose type:
Local
Mobile
National
Tollfree
Choose a country
Select features (ensure it supports both inbound and outbound)
Click "More details" to review compliance requirements.
Click "Add to cart" when you've found a suitable number.
Go to your cart and click "Process payment."
Note: your toll-free number will be pending registration (approval takes up to 7 working days).
Step 3: Set up an Alphanumeric sender (for international)
Navigate to Numbers, then Alphanumeric Numbers.
Click "Request Alphanumeric sender."
Complete the form with:
Priority level
Alphanumeric sender name (up to 11 characters)
Country for registration
Subject and detailed description
Include required information:
Legal company name and webpage
Country of registration
Traffic type (marketing or transactional)
Message samples
Attach supporting documents if needed (10MB max).
Step 4: Activate your number channel
For Toll-Free Numbers, click "Activate numbers now" after purchase.
You can also activate later from the Numbers dashboard.
Step 5: Consider operational setup for global messaging
If sending to both North America and worldwide, you'll need two different sender types.
Consider using Bird Navigators feature to manage this complexity.
Always check docs.bird.com/api for country-specific regulations and requirements.
Step 6: Implement opt-out handling
Remember that opt-out isn't mandatory except for marketing messages.
You can use the optOutLink variable in your message body when needed.
