Carrier lookup

What line type tells you before you send

A phone number looks the same whether it rings a cell phone, a desk phone or an internet calling app, but only some of those can receive a text. A lookup asks the carrier network which kind of number it is, so you know before you spend anything sending to it.

• Mobile - a cell phone on a carrier like Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. It can receive SMS and MMS, so it is marked deliverable.
• VoIP - a number from an internet phone service. Many of these receive texts, so they are marked deliverable too. If a sign-up form suddenly fills with them, it is worth a second look.
• Landline - a fixed line that cannot receive a text. It is marked not deliverable: call it instead, or take it off the texting list.
• Toll-free, unknown or invalid - marked not deliverable. A number that is not a real phone number at all is flagged as invalid and never charged.

When a lookup pays for itself

• Before you import an older contact list. Numbers collected on paper forms or over the phone often turn out to be landlines. Upload the CSV, keep the deliverable rows, and route the rest to a call list.
• On sign-up and booking forms. Check a number can receive texts before you send a verification code or an appointment reminder to it, and ask for a mobile number on the spot if it cannot.
• In your own software. Call the API when a record is created, store the line type next to the contact, and let your system decide whether to text, call or email.

Every text you send still needs the recipient's consent - a lookup tells you whether a number can receive a message, not whether you are allowed to send one. Our guide to 10DLC registration covers the rules for business texting.

Pricing

Lookups cost $0.01 each, paid from the same prepaid wallet as your messages, and every new account gets 1,000 free. There are no minimums and no monthly fee from Texttive; the only recurring charges are number and 10DLC registration fees, listed on the pricing page. Looking up the same number again within 30 days is free, and malformed numbers are never charged. See the full pricing page for message rates.

Carrier lookup API

One request per number. The response gives the carrier, the line type and a simple deliverable flag you can act on.

curl -X POST https://texttive.com/api/v1/lookups \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer ttv_live_xxxxxxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"phone": "+14055550122"}'

{ "data": { "phone": "+14055550122", "valid": true, "carrier": "Verizon Wireless",
  "line_type": "mobile", "deliverable": true, "price": "0.000000", "source": "provider" } }

Authentication, rate limits and error codes are in the API documentation.