Getting and Setting Up Your First Number

You’re ready to grab your first number and get sending—amazing! This guide walks you through every step of the process, whether you're purchasing a new number or bringing your own via porting.

Let’s get you up and running.

First, decide how you want to bring your number into Signal House:

Already have a number you love? You can port it into Signal House.

We support two types of ports:

• Soft Port – Brings messaging to Signal House while keeping voice with your current provider (most common).

• Hard Port – Moves everything to Signal House.

If you're unsure, soft porting is usually the best bet.

No number? No problem. You can purchase one directly from the platform or via API.

It’s fast, filterable, and flexible.

Once your number is in the system—via porting or purchase—you’ll find it under “Your Numbers.”

You’ll notice it won’t show a “Ready” Messaging Status yet. That’s because it needs to be configured.

📘 Configure via the Portal

🛠️ Or Configure via API

• Go to “Your Numbers” → Configure (far-right under “Actions”)

• In the configuration screen, click the “Configure” tab

• (Optional) Choose a Sub Group to organize your number

  • Sub Groups = clean data, easy filtering, better reporting

• Select your Brand

  • Need to submit one? Here’s the Brand Submission Guide

• Select a Campaign

  • Don’t worry—you can select a Campaign before selecting a Brand. We’ll auto-assign the correct Brand.

  • Need help? Here’s the Campaign Setup Guide

• (Optional) Add webhook URLs:

  • One for inbound messages

  • One for fallback (primary handler fail)

• Test it out!

  • Go to “Send Message”

  • Choose SMS or MMS

  • Set your new number as “From”

  • Use your phone (or a test line) as “To”

  • Type something brilliant—and hit send!

Want to go faster or work this into your own system? Use our API!

• Use POST to: /phoneNumber/configurePhoneNumber

• You can assign:

  • Sub Group

  • Brand

  • Campaign

  • Messaging Webhook URLs (primary + fallback)

Important: If the Brand/Campaign you assign is in a different Sub Group than the one you provided—your call will return an error.

• Decide: Port or purchase your number.

• Configure: Find your number in “Your Numbers” and hit Configure.

• Assign: Set up Sub Group, Brand, and Campaign.

• Optional: Add webhook URLs for enhanced messaging updates.

• Test: Send a test message to make sure everything’s working.

• Developers can use the API for a faster setup.

Q: What’s the difference between a Soft Port and a Hard Port?

A: A Soft Port transfers only your messaging services to Signal House, leaving your voice services with your current provider. A Hard Port moves all services to Signal House.

Q: How do I know when my number is “Ready”?

A: A number only shows a “Ready” Messaging Status after it’s been properly configured and assigned to the proper Sub Group, Brand, and Campaign.

Q: What should I do if I encounter an error during configuration?

A: Verify that your Sub Group, Brand, and Campaign selections match. If you continue to experience issues, please contact our Support Team.

Q: Can I configure my number after it’s been activated?

A: Yes, you can reconfigure your number via the portal or API at any time.

Q: Do I need to add webhook URLs if I’m not integrating with a messaging system?

A: While optional, adding webhook URLs is recommended for receiving real-time updates on your messaging.

If you need a hand or have any questions about configuring your new number, feel free to reach out to our Support Team or chat with your account manager. We're here to help get your communications rolling.

Quick Tip: Set up your Sub Groups, Brands, and Campaigns before configuring your number for a smoother activation process.