Messaging

Deploy messaging in any market with a single Android phone


No major contract. No virtual number required. One Android phone with a local SIM is all you need to start sending and receiving messages 

The Telerivet Gateway app is built for organizations operating in markets where cloud-based virtual numbers are unavailable, expensive, or unreliable. Install the app on any compatible Android phone, insert a local SIM, and you have a fully functional SMS gateway: connected to Telerivet's platform and ready to send, receive, and automate messages.
It works with any mobile phone user in your country, including contacts who do not have smartphones or internet access. It also supports MMS containing images, audio, video, or documents, and can receive RCS messages.

How it works

The app runs in the background on your Android phone, forwarding messages between your local mobile network and Telerivet's servers. As long as the phone is on, connected to the internet, and has airtime, it functions as a cloud-connected SMS gateway your team can manage from any browser.

Your Contacts
Mobile Networks
Telerivet Servers

Learn more:

 

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googleplay

App Features

Keeps running even when infrastructure doesn't
  • Pending messages are saved automatically if the phone loses connection or turns off, and sent when it comes back online.
  • Low-power mode keeps the gateway running for days without electricity when the phone is disconnected from a power source.
  • Switches automatically between Wi-Fi and mobile data for redundant connectivity.
  • Anyone on your team can keep the gateway running: charge the phone, maintain airtime, check the signal. No technical expertise required.
  • Email alerts notify you the moment the phone goes offline so you can act before contacts are affected.
Use local messaging rates
  • Insert any local SIM card to send messages at local carrier rates, no international routing markups.
  • Sign up for any local texting plan or bundle to reduce per-message costs further.
  • Connect multiple Android phones on different networks to take advantage of in-network SMS rates.
  • Send up to 1,000 messages per hour per phone, receive up to 6,000. Add more phones to increase capacity.
Manage and monitor remotely from any browser
  • Manage your Telerivet account directly from the Android app,  no computer required.
  • View your Android phone's status logs and change app settings from Telerivet.com, even when you don't have physical access to the phone.
  • View historical statistics for your Android's power, battery, and network connectivity from the web.
  • Configure email alerts when your Android phone isn't working.
  • Synchronize messages from your Android phone's messaging app with Telerivet.com.
SMS, MMS, RCS, and USSD from one gateway
  • Send and receive SMS to any mobile phone, including long (multipart) messages and Unicode scripts such as Arabic, Devanagari, Hangul and more.
  • Send and receive MMS containing images, audio, video, or documents. (Requires Android 5 or higher.)
  • Receive RCS messages with attachments up to 50 MB.
  • Send USSD requests to check airtime balance, add scratch card credit, or transfer airtime to other users.†
  • Receive incoming call notifications and trigger automated responses to missed calls.
Additional configuration options
  • Optional quiet hours to avoid sending SMS messages at night.
  • Optional SMS delivery reports.
  • Support for HTTP proxy servers such as Orbot.
  • Automatically install updates from Google Play when a new version of the app is available.
  • No need to connect your phone to a Google Account – you can download the app directly from Telerivet.com.

Compatible phones

The app runs on any Android 4.4 or higher device, which covers more than 99% of Android phones. Most inexpensive Android phones work well, many are available for $100 or less.

For most reliable performance, use a device from Samsung, Google Pixel, or a similar major global brand. Some manufacturers, including Huawei, Tecno, ZTE, Oppo, and Xiaomi,  use aggressive battery optimization that can terminate background apps, which may interrupt the gateway. If you are using one of these devices, additional configuration may be required to keep the app running reliably.The app is not recommended on ultra-budget devices running Android Go.

Managing airtime and carrier costs

Your mobile network charges the same rate as a standard SMS sent from the phone: there are no additional per-message fees from Telerivet beyond your standard plan costs. On prepaid SIMs, this means maintaining airtime on the device.
On over 450 mobile networks worldwide, you can top up airtime directly from within Telerivet. On other networks, airtime can be added via local prepaid vouchers or standard top-up methods..

Is the Gateway App right for your use case?

The Android Gateway is the right choice when you need to deploy quickly, operate in a market where virtual numbers are unavailable, or keep messaging costs tied to local carrier rates.


It is best suited for organizations sending fewer than 1,000 messages per day. For operations that need higher throughput,a virtual number, shortcode, or custom sender ID will handle the load more reliably.  See other messaging options

† Telerivet currently doesn't support USSD menus that prompt the user for additional input (for example, *150*00# to access Vodacom M-Pesa in Tanzania)

Ready to deploy messaging in your market?
 
See other messaging options »