The SMS Gateway for Teams enables Microsoft Teams users to send and receive SMS and MMS messages directly from the Teams interface – no separate messaging app is needed. Messages are delivered through Twillio and charged in real time via PortaBilling.
The SMS Gateway for Teams supports:
- Two-way messaging. Users can send messages to mobile numbers and receive messages from mobile networks.
- Delivery confirmation. The SMS gateway tracks delivery status for outbound messages using Twilio notifications – delivery receipts or DLRs. Messages are charged only after successful delivery is confirmed.
- Real-time authorization and charging. Every message is authorized and charged in real time through PortaBilling using the REST API for Charging. Outbound messages are charged after confirmed delivery; inbound messages are charged after successful delivery to Teams.
Requirements
- An active subscription to the SMS Gateway for Teams Add-on Mart module.
- An active subscription to theREST API for Charging Add-on Mart module.
- A Twilio account with at least one SMS-capable DID number (a number that supports SMS).
- Active Microsoft Teams client.
How it works
The service provider activates the SMS Gateway for Teams subscription and configures the module in Add-on Mart. The gateway is then deployed in the Add-on Mart cloud infrastructure.
A typical outbound message flow:
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- A Teams user sends an SMS message from the Microsoft Teams client. Teammate (the Microsoft Teams integration component) then forwards the message to the SMS Gateway.
- The SMS Gateway requests authorization from the Web Charging Gateway, which reserves the required funds in PortaBilling.
- If authorization succeeds, the SMS Gateway sends the message to Twilio for delivery to the mobile number.
- Twilio delivers the SMS.
- Twilio sends a delivery receipt (DLR) to the SMS Gateway.
- If delivery succeeds, the SMS Gateway sends a charging request to the Web Charging Gateway. This is forwarded to PortaBilling, which deducts the funds from the user’s balance or reduces the number of remaining SMS messages in the bundle. If delivery fails, the reservation is released, and no charge is applied.
For inbound messages, the flow is reversed: Twilio receives the message from the mobile network and forwards it to the SMS Gateway, which authorizes and reserves the funds, delivers the message to Teams via Teammate, and then charges or releases the reservation depending on the delivery result.
What it delivers to customers
- All communication is centralized in Microsoft Teams, eliminating the need for a separate application and switching between apps.
What it delivers to you
- Offers more competitive service to customers using MS Teams.
