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Ponitor developer docs

Ponitor lets your systems send SMS and WhatsApp messages, run USSD menus, and top up airtime and data bundles in Liberia, on Orange and Lonestar Cell MTN.

A terminal sends an SMS through the Ponitor sandbox with curl, the API answers QUEUED, and the message from KPELLE MFI appears on a phone's lock screen.

New here? Send your first SMS. It takes a few minutes, in the sandbox, so nothing is charged.

Start here​

5 minutes

Send your first SMS

Make a sandbox key and send a message to the Simulator. Nothing is charged.

Start
Guide

API keys and base URLs

Sandbox keys and live keys, and where each one works.

Open
Guide

The sandbox

A test balance, shared senders and magic numbers for every outcome.

Open
Reference

API reference

Every endpoint, with examples in curl, Node.js, Python and PHP.

Open

Products​

SMS

You call the API

Send from your Sender ID to Orange and Lonestar Cell MTN numbers, and get replies on a Short Code.

Read the guide

WhatsApp

You call the API

Start a conversation with an approved template, then reply freely for 24 hours after the customer writes.

Read the guide

USSD

Ponitor calls you

Run menus on a USSD code such as *123#. They work on any phone, without data.

Read the guide

Airtime and data

You call the API

Top up an Orange or MTN number with airtime or a data bundle. $1.00 of airtime costs $1.00.

Read the guide

How it fits together​

Your server calls Ponitor over HTTPS with JSON. Ponitor hands the request to the network or to WhatsApp. The answer comes back in the response, and anything that happens later, such as a delivery or a reply, comes to your webhook.

API requestwebhooks: statuses and repliesYOUR SERVERPONITORORANGESMS, USSD, airtimeLONESTAR CELL MTNSMS, USSD, airtimeWHATSAPPWhatsApp messages
Requests go out through the networks. Status changes and replies come back to your webhook.

USSD runs the other way round: Ponitor calls your server for each screen. See How USSD works.

What every integration has in common​

  • Two kinds of key, two base URLs. A sandbox key works only at https://sandbox-api.ponitor.com, and a live key only at https://api.ponitor.com. See API keys and base URLs.
  • You start in the sandbox. Every team has one from the day it signs up, with a test balance and ready-made senders. See The sandbox.
  • Every send carries your externalId. Sending the same request again with the same externalId never sends or charges twice. See Retries and externalId.
  • There is no SDK. Use any HTTP client.

Base URLs​

Messagingturn it on under Subscribed APIs, Messaging API

  • Livehttps://api.ponitor.com/messaging/v1
  • Sandboxhttps://sandbox-api.ponitor.com/messaging/v1

Airtimeturn it on under Subscribed APIs, Airtime API

  • Livehttps://api.ponitor.com/airtime/v1
  • Sandboxhttps://sandbox-api.ponitor.com/airtime/v1

Help​

International SMS is available on request. For that, or anything else, write to us on WhatsApp or at info@kwagei.com.

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