Guides

Platform scope and selection order

CanSMS provides numbers and SMS access, not third-party accounts. Define the intended service, validity and privacy needs, then check current country, number type and terms. Allocation, SMS receipt and successful third-party verification are separate outcomes.

Three service models and API access

Temporary / one-time is one service category for selected short-term orders. Long-term / reusable access concerns supported repeat messages during validity. Free numbers and messages are public. API access is an integration method, not a fourth number product; newly integrated channels follow the released catalog.

Number types, validity and repeat access

First-use, restart and extension labels identify catalog products; they do not guarantee a number has no third-party history or substitute for a quote to renew an existing number. Temporary does not inherently mean one message; long-term is not permanent, and reusable is not unlimited or cross-app. Check actual product and order validity.

Use the existing purchase and message workflow

1. Check intended service, country, number type, validity and quantity in the existing catalog.
2. Sign in to review current price, supply and transaction terms, then use the existing confirmation workflow.
3. Check actual allocation and expiry in the order or My numbers.
4. Follow the target platform prompt and view messages for the corresponding number; browse free messages directly in the public center.

Distinguish allocation, missing SMS and uncertain results

Funding is not a number purchase, and allocation is not SMS delivery. Query the original order when processing, timed out or uncertain rather than making a duplicate purchase. For missing SMS, check country code, format, selected service, validity and the platform response. Cancellation and refunds follow the selected product policy.

SMS receiving API capabilities and permissions

The customer API exposes currently authorized account, catalog, number, order and message workflows. Read endpoints, parameters and examples in authorized account documentation. Provider endpoints do not establish customer capability; do not expose API keys, number credentials or codes publicly.

Public free inbox limitations and troubleshooting

Free numbers and published messages can be visible to others and are unsuitable for important or sensitive accounts. An empty inbox, update error, no SMS being sent and number rejection are different conditions. Use the free center’s existing refresh and update information rather than treating an empty inbox as an outage.

Long-term expiry and renewal eligibility

Renewal depends on country, operator, number type, state and available window. Repeat renewal is not permanent ownership or automatic billing, and nominal months are not fixed day counts. Ordinary single-number Canada renewal is not supported; check other conditions in the renewal guide and confirmation page.

Pricing, funding and balance

Review price, availability and applicable fees at confirmation. Funding records, purchase orders and balance entries are separate records. Release of undelivered reserved funds, a consumed-order refund and returning a payment to its source are different processes governed by their applicable rules.

Account security, privacy and third-party rules

Protect account access, passwords, API keys and number credentials. Give support order references, timing and redacted details, not verification codes or private keys. Follow service rules and applicable law; do not use numbers for fraud, spam or bypassing security controls. CanSMS is independent of the named third-party apps.

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