An SMS API is the means by which developers connect to an SMS router, where they can send and receive SMS messages, as well as manage a number of features within a secure environment for their database. Recently, ambitious developers have started creating their own APIs to power private SMS messaging systems that they can control.

Why would a developer choose to create their own SMS API? Are there inherent dangers in choosing this option to integrate SMS into a software solution or application?

Why do developers want to create their own API?

As you probably already know, the SMS industry is not an easy environment to enter as a solo developer. For developers, using a free but limited SMS API or a paid SMS API service is sometimes not enough. When that is the case, they turn their attention to creating their own API, with the goal of developing a solution that perfectly meets their needs.

The problem, of course, is that beyond the obvious savings, this option carries many disadvantages that developers may not be fully aware of. Creating an SMS API is no walk in the park, and it requires a good amount of software coding. If you are neither ready for that nor an expert in the field, simply forget this option!

Furthermore, developers should not waste their time creating their own SMS API when they are not prepared to handle the software issues that inevitably come with it.

Why developing your own SMS API is a bad idea

An SMS router and an API like the one we offer at Octopush have a number of features that a smaller SMS API cannot even hope to have. This limits the number of features the developer has at their disposal. Since your goal is to reach as many people as possible with your SMS service application, a limited network is certainly not a good option for developing your API.

1. An SMS API with little or no security can easily fall prey to spammers. In such a case, your entire contact database will receive large, often staggering amounts of spam, originating from your own network.
2. Depending on how you develop your SMS API, the volume of SMS you will be able to send will, in the vast majority of cases, be much lower than if you use a recognized API provided by a reliable company.
3. Your features will be limited by an SMS API based on a GSM modem. Only basic HTTP sending and receiving protocol functions can be developed.
4. Using an open-source SMS routing service in conjunction with your API will also prove to be very limited. These services are often prone to major malfunctions, are regularly hacked, or face network issues. All of this means that your SMS messages will be lost, stolen, or worse if your gateway encounters one or more problems.
5. Applications or software that use SMS features need extensive network coverage so that texts can reach customers, no matter where they are in the world.

The reasons why developers want to create their own API (more profit, cost reduction) are also very often the reasons for their failure. In the sole pursuit of saving money, their SMS service becomes unreliable, which leads to numerous problems that are difficult to manage.

This is why developers should not hesitate to consider a partnership with a company like Octopush. Building your own SMS API is possible, but only if the SMS messages are to be sent to a limited number of people, and if those people are not bothered by the errors or security risks that this type of development causes.