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Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

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Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#21
post #3

I've played wit Twilio and have used it to extend some of the hooks I previously had in IFTTT. Additionally I've been toying with porting my number out of Google Voice for compatibility (ie. no MMS) and privacy reasons. My question is, how hard would it be to build your own personal Google Voice like service around the twilio API, or has anyone done this?

Better Voice[1] is pretty close and reasonably priced. They use Twilio so I'm sure they'll add MMS support soon. Disclaimer: I know the founders.

1: https://www.bettervoice.com/

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#22
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would love to learn more about why these messages are failing for you. Reckon you could shoot us some of the failed SmsSids to help@twilio.com? I'd be much obliged.

I'm not using the API only the "see for yourself" link on the MMS page at https://www.twilio.com/mms . Webpage says it's sent but nothing ever arrives to the phone. I'll send an email to help@twilio.com with my phone number if someone over there wants to try a few test sends for debug info. As a side note I just tested using the SMS page and it seems to work now. When I last tried it a couple months ago when swapping…

I just tried this as well using my AT&T Straight Talk phone number, and the result was the same (message reports being sent, but never shows up on my end).

I'll also fire off an email so that you can have at least two numbers to test with.

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#24
post #3

I've played wit Twilio and have used it to extend some of the hooks I previously had in IFTTT. Additionally I've been toying with porting my number out of Google Voice for compatibility (ie. no MMS) and privacy reasons. My question is, how hard would it be to build your own personal Google Voice like service around the twilio API, or has anyone done this?

OpenVBX (http://www.openvbx.org/) does exactly this and runs on twilio however it's a bit of a chore to setup on EC2 and unfortunately development isn't that active so I wouldn't expect to see MMS anytime soon. A real shame.

I used it to setup a menu with recordings and things like'press 1 for support' to route calls for our sales and support teams.

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#25
post #14

Well, all the kudos should go to Bandwidth.com the primary carrier of of Twilio, Plivo, Google Voice, etc ...

Can you elaborate on the relationship between Twilio and Bandwidth.com? I actually have very little understanding of what happens once Twilio receives an API request.

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#26
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not using the API only the "see for yourself" link on the MMS page at https://www.twilio.com/mms . Webpage says it's sent but nothing ever arrives to the phone. I'll send an email to help@twilio.com with my phone number if someone over there wants to try a few test sends for debug info. As a side note I just tested using the SMS page and it seems to work now. When I last tried it a couple months ago when swapping…

I just tried this as well using my AT&T Straight Talk phone number, and the result was the same (message reports being sent, but never shows up on my end). I'll also fire off an email so that you can have at least two numbers to test with.

Thank you!

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#27
post #2

This is an amazing biz dev achievement. Twilio seems to be getting closer to aggregating all of the hard stuff in telco land every day. It's hard to overstate just how hard this is to do. This isn't as simple as going to an aggregator and getting SMS done, MMS has been one of the last bastions of exerted carrier influence and it's slowly being democratized. This is the first time I can recall someone getting this lev…

Much obliged Josh. Took a while, but we're having a lot of fun with it. Text a pic of yourself to (646) 846-8238 - you should get a sweet mustache back.

Old unit testing habits compelled me to txt a photo that already has a mustache. Result? Better mustache. Test passed.

Re: Twilio Adds Low-Cost, Two-Way MMS Picture Messaging to Its API Cloud

#28
post #3

I've played wit Twilio and have used it to extend some of the hooks I previously had in IFTTT. Additionally I've been toying with porting my number out of Google Voice for compatibility (ie. no MMS) and privacy reasons. My question is, how hard would it be to build your own personal Google Voice like service around the twilio API, or has anyone done this?

Better Voice[1] is pretty close and reasonably priced. They use Twilio so I'm sure they'll add MMS support soon. Disclaimer: I know the founders. 1: https://www.bettervoice.com/

Looks a little more involved than I need -- I already have SIP trunking through someone else, I mostly just need the SMS/MMS side of life
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