What each status means
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Scheduled | The message is waiting for the date and time you chose. It can still be cancelled. |
| Queued | The message has been accepted and is waiting to go to the mobile network. |
| Sending | The message is being handed to the network now. |
| Sent | The network accepted the message. It is on its way to the phone, but the phone has not confirmed it yet. |
| Delivered | The phone received the message. |
| Failed | The message could not be delivered. The reason is shown next to it. |
| Cancelled | A scheduled message that you cancelled before it went out. |
Sent is not the same as delivered
"Sent" means the mobile network has taken the message. "Delivered" means the handset confirmed that it arrived. Most messages move from sent to delivered within seconds. A message stays on "sent" when the phone is switched off or out of coverage, and the network keeps trying for up to 48 hours before it gives up.
Why messages fail
- The number is wrong or no longer in use. This is the most common reason in an old contact list.
- The phone stayed off or out of coverage for the whole time the network was trying.
- The network refused the message. In that case the cost is refunded to your balance automatically.
Numbers that are not valid Sri Lankan mobiles are caught before sending. They are listed as invalid, and you are not charged for them.
Reading a campaign report
Open a campaign in the portal to see its totals and a status for every number, with the time each message was sent and delivered. From the same page you can resend the campaign to only the numbers that failed, and export the list as a CSV file for your records.
Keeping your list clean
- Remove numbers that fail in two or three campaigns in a row. They cost money and never arrive.
- Add anyone who asks to stop to your block list. Blocked numbers are skipped in every future send.
- Collect numbers in one format at the point of sale or sign-up, and confirm new ones with a welcome message.
Delivery reports for developers
Through the API, the status of any message is one request away, and a webhook can push the final status to your server the moment it is known. Each report carries the message ID, your own reference, the number and the status. The tutorials for PHP, Node.js and Python include a working webhook receiver, and the SMS API reference lists every field.
New to sending? Start with how to send bulk SMS in Sri Lanka.