SMS
Send and receive text messages (SMS) and multimedia messages (MMS) through DM Champ. SMS is supported through two phone service providers - Twilio and Telnyx - giving you flexibility in pricing, coverage, and phone number availability.
Overview
SMS messaging in DM Champ allows you to:
Send and receive text messages with contacts
Send multimedia messages (images, videos, documents) via MMS
Automate responses with the AI bot
Run SMS-based campaigns
Receive calls and voicemail on your SMS numbers
Handle regulatory compliance for different countries
Two Provider Options
DM Champ supports two SMS providers (the companies that handle sending and receiving your text messages), each with different strengths:
Global coverage
100+ countries
100+ countries
Number types
Local, mobile, toll-free
Local, mobile, toll-free
MMS support
Yes
Yes
Voice/voicemail
Yes
Yes
Pricing model
Per-message + monthly number fee
Per-message + monthly number fee
DM Champ handles the provider setup automatically. When you buy a phone number, you choose which provider to use, and all messaging works seamlessly behind the scenes.
Buying an SMS Number
Through DM Champ (Managed)
The simplest way to get started is to buy a number directly through DM Champ:
Navigate to Phone Numbers in the left sidebar.
Click Buy Number.
Select the provider (Twilio or Telnyx).
Select the country where you want your number.
Browse available numbers. You can filter by area code or number type.
Choose a number and enter a display name for your reference.
Select a category for the number.
Click Purchase.
The cost in credits depends on the country and phone number type. You will also be charged a monthly fee of 50 credits per phone number to keep it active.
Tip: If you plan to use the phone number for WhatsApp Business API later, purchase it through Twilio - Telnyx phone numbers can only be used for SMS.
Connect Your Own Twilio or Telnyx Account
If you already have a Twilio or Telnyx account with phone numbers, you can connect your existing account to DM Champ instead of buying new numbers. This is useful if you already pay for these services and want to keep using your current phone numbers.
Connecting Your Twilio Account
Go to Settings in the left sidebar.
Navigate to Account or Integrations.
Find the Twilio section.
Enter your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token (you can find both on your Twilio Console dashboard - they are the two credentials shown on the main page after you log in).
Click Connect.
Your existing Twilio numbers will become available in DM Champ.
Connecting Your Telnyx Account
Go to Settings in the left sidebar.
Navigate to Account or Integrations.
Find the Telnyx section.
Enter your Telnyx API Key (you can find this in the Telnyx Portal under Auth > API Keys).
Click Connect.
Your existing Telnyx numbers will become available in DM Champ.
Note: When using your own account, SMS messaging costs are billed directly by Twilio or Telnyx (not through DM Champ credits). You will still use DM Champ credits for AI features and platform tools, but the per-message cost for sending and receiving texts goes through your provider's billing.
Sending and Receiving SMS
Receiving Messages
Once your number is active, incoming SMS messages are automatically routed to DM Champ:
A contact sends a text to your DM Champ number.
The message appears in your Inbox in real time.
A new contact is created automatically if this is the first message from that sender.
If an AI bot is active on the relevant campaign, it will respond automatically.
Sending Messages
You can send SMS messages from DM Champ in several ways:
Manual reply: Open a conversation in the Inbox and type your reply.
Campaign messages: Set up automated SMS campaigns to reach contacts at scale.
AI bot: Enable the AI bot to respond to incoming messages automatically.
Scheduled messages: Schedule messages to be sent at a specific time.
MMS (Multimedia Messages)
SMS numbers also support MMS, which allows you to send and receive:
Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF)
Videos (MP4)
Audio files
Documents (PDF)
Media attachments are automatically uploaded and stored securely. When contacts send you media via MMS, the files are saved and accessible through the conversation view.
Note: MMS availability and pricing vary by country and provider. MMS is widely supported in the US and Canada but may have limited support in other regions.
Call Handling and Voicemail
Phone numbers purchased through DM Champ can also receive voice calls. Since DM Champ is a messaging platform, incoming calls are handled with an automated voicemail system:
A caller dials your DM Champ number.
They hear an automated greeting: "Hello, you have reached voicemail. Please leave a message after the beep."
The caller's voicemail is recorded.
The recording is saved and associated with the contact in DM Champ.
The voicemail is transcribed to text for easy review.
You can review voicemail recordings and transcriptions in the contact's conversation history.
Tip: Voicemail transcription lets your AI bot understand and respond to voice messages. If a caller leaves a voicemail with a question, the bot can follow up with an SMS response.
Regulatory Compliance
Different countries have varying regulations around SMS messaging. DM Champ helps you stay compliant:
Required Documentation for Some Countries
Some countries require you to provide identity or business registration documents before you can purchase a phone number. When buying a phone number in one of these countries:
DM Champ will prompt you to upload the required documents.
Your documents are submitted for review on your behalf.
Once approved, the phone number becomes available for use.
Business Address Requirement
A verified business address is required for phone number purchases. DM Champ handles this automatically by:
Using the business address from your account settings.
Creating the necessary address records.
Linking them to your purchased phone numbers.
Make sure your Business Details (name and address) are filled in under Settings before purchasing numbers.
Messaging Compliance Best Practices
Obtain consent before sending SMS messages to contacts. This is legally required in most jurisdictions (TCPA in the US, GDPR in Europe, etc.).
Include opt-out instructions in campaign messages (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe").
Respect opt-out requests immediately. DM Champ's "Do Not Disturb" feature helps manage this.
Identify yourself in messages - recipients should know who is contacting them.
Follow local regulations for the countries where your contacts are located.
Troubleshooting
Messages Not Being Delivered
Verify the recipient's phone number is in the correct international format (e.g., +1234567890).
Check that you have sufficient credits in your account.
Ensure the number has not been deactivated or released.
Check the message status in the conversation view for error details.
Some countries block messages from foreign numbers - consider purchasing a local number for that country.
Number Purchase Fails
Ensure your business details (name and address) are filled in under Settings.
Check that you have enough credits for the purchase.
The number may no longer be available - try selecting a different one.
For regulated countries, regulatory approval may be pending.
MMS Not Working
Confirm MMS is supported in the recipient's country.
Check that the file size is within limits (typically 5MB for MMS).
Verify the file format is supported (JPEG, PNG, GIF, MP4, PDF).
Not Receiving Incoming Messages
Send a test SMS to your DM Champ number from your personal phone.
Check that the number is active in the Phone Numbers section.
If the issue persists, try disconnecting and reconnecting the phone number in the Phone Numbers section. DM Champ manages the technical setup automatically, but reconnecting can resolve rare configuration issues.
Voice Calls Going to a Generic Message
This is expected behavior. DM Champ is a messaging platform and routes all calls to voicemail.
The voicemail greeting is automated and cannot currently be customized.
Best Practices
Use local numbers for the countries where your contacts are based. Messages from local numbers have higher trust and delivery rates.
Keep messages concise. SMS has a 160-character limit per segment. Longer messages are split into multiple segments, which increases cost.
Time your messages appropriately. Avoid sending messages outside business hours in the recipient's timezone.
Monitor delivery rates. If you notice poor delivery in certain regions, consider switching providers (Twilio vs. Telnyx) for those numbers.
Set up the AI bot to respond to incoming messages quickly, especially outside business hours.
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