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Pair your phone

SMS Bridge uses your own Android phone as the SMS radio. Pairing binds the phone to your workspace so messages you send through the API go out from it, and SMS it receives show up in your inbox.

1. Install the SMS Bridge Android app

Install the APK you were given (Google Play listing coming soon). Android 7.0 or newer is required.

2. Grant permissions

  • SMS — to send and receive messages.
  • Phone — to list your SIM cards for multi-SIM routing.
  • Notifications — for the “gateway running” notification that keeps the service alive.
  • Battery optimisation exemption — so Android does not stop the app in the background. The app's setup checklist walks you through it.

3. Scan the QR code

  1. In the portal open Phones → Pair a phone.
  2. In the app tap Scan and point the camera at the QR code. It fills in the pairing code and the server URL for you.
  3. Enter this phone's number in E.164 format (e.g. +923001234567), an optional label, and the SIM slot, then tap Pair Device.

Codes are single-use and expire after 10 minutes — press New code in the portal if it runs out. No camera? Type the 8-character code shown under the QR, and this server URL: https://api.99billingsolutions.com/v1.

4. Verify

The app shows Gateway Active and the phone appears in Phones as online (it reports in every 5 minutes).

Multiple phones and SIMs

Pair each phone the same way; each one sends from its own number, chosen by from_number when you send. On a dual-SIM phone pick the SIM slot while pairing, or set a default SIM and per-prefix rules in the app under Settings → Multi-SIM routing.

Troubleshooting

  • “Could not create a pairing code” in the portal — the portal cannot reach the API. Open the API's /health page, and make sure your website's address is listed in the API's allowed origins.
  • Phone stays offline — open the app once, make sure it has internet, and exempt it from battery optimisation.
  • “Invalid pairing code” — the code expired or was already used; create a new one.