africastalking

africastalking-node.js

Official AfricasTalking node.js API wrapper

Install

$ npm install --save africastalking

Initialization

var options = {
    apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    username: 'YOUR_USERNAME',
    format: 'json' // or xml
};
var AfricasTalking = require('africastalking')(options);
// ...

Important: If you register a callback URL with the API, always remember to acknowledge the receipt of any data it sends by responding with an HTTP 200; e.g. res.status(200); for express.

SMS

var sms = AfricasTalking.SMS;
// all methods return a promise
sms.send(opts)
    .then(success)
    .catch(error);

Sending SMS

• send(options): Send a message. options contains:

  • to: A single recipient or an array of recipients. REQUIRED
  • from: Shortcode or alphanumeric ID that is registered with Africa's Talking account.
  • message: SMS content. REQUIRED

• sendBulk(options): Send bulk SMS. In addition to paramaters of send(), we would have:

  • enqueue: "[...] would like deliver as many messages to the API before waiting for an Ack from the Telcos."

• sendPremium(options): Send premium SMS. In addition to paramaters of send(), we would have:

  • keyword: Value is a premium keyword REQUIRED
  • linkId: "[...] We forward the linkId to your application when the user send a message to your service" REQUIRED
  • retryDurationInHours: "It specifies the number of hours your subscription message should be retried in case it's not delivered to the subscriber"

Retrieving SMS

You can register a callback URL with us and we will forward any messages that are sent to your account the moment they arrive. Read more

• fetchMessages(options): Manually retrieve your messages.

  • lastReceivedId: "This is the id of the message that you last processed". Defaults to 0. REQUIRED

Premium Subscriptions

If you have subscription products on your premium SMS short codes, you will need to configure a callback URL that we will invoke to notify you when users subscribe or unsubscribe from your products. Read more

• createSubscription(options):

  • shortCode: "This is a premium short code mapped to your account". REQUIRED
  • keyword: "Value is a premium keyword under the above short code and mapped to your account". REQUIRED
  • phoneNumber: "The phoneNumber to be subscribed" REQUIRED

• fetchSubscription(options):

  • shortCode: "This is a premium short code mapped to your account". REQUIRED
  • keyword: "Value is a premium keyword under the above short code and mapped to your account". REQUIRED
  • lastReceivedId: "ID of the subscription you believe to be your last." Defaults to 0

USSD

Processing USSD requests using our API is very easy once your account is set up. In particular, you will need to:

• Register a service code with us.
• Register a URL that we can call whenever we get a request from a client coming into our system.

Once you register your callback URL, any requests that we receive belonging to you will trigger a callback that sends the request data to that page using HTTP POST. Read more.

If you are using connect-like frameworks (express), you could use the middleware AfricasTalking.USSD(handler):

handler(params, next): Process USSD request and call next() when done.

• params: contains the following user data sent by Africa's Talking servers: sessionId, serviceCode, phoneNumber and text.
• next(args): args must contain the following:
  • response: Text to display on user's device. REQUIRED
  • endSession: Boolean to decide whether to END session or to CONtinue it. REQUIRED

// example (express)

app.post('/natoil-ussd', new AfricasTalking.USSD((params, next) => {
    var endSession = false;
    var message = '';
    
    var session = sessions.get(params.sessionId);
    var user = db.getUserByPhone(params.phoneNumber);

    if (params.text === '') {
        message = "Welcome to Nat Oil \n";
        message += "1: For account info \n";
        message += "2: For lost gas cylinder";

    } else if (params.text === '1') {
        message = user.getInfo();
        endSession = true;

    } else if (params.text === '2') {
        message = "Enter 1 for recovery \n";
        message += "Enter 2 for lost and found";
        endSession = true;

    } else {
        message = "Invalid option";
        endSession = true;
    }

    next({
        response: message, 
        endSession: endSession
    });
}));

Voice TODO

var voice = AfricasTalking.VOICE;

• Make helpers that will construct proper xml to send back to Africa's Taking API when it comes POSTing. Read more
  • Say, Play, GetDigits, Dial, Record, Enqueue, Dequeue, Conference, Redirect, Reject
• Initiate a call
• Fetch call queue
• Media upload
• Remember to send back an HTTP 200.

Airtime

var airtime = AfricasTalking.AIRTIME;

• airtime.send(options): Send airtime

  • recipients: An array of the following
    • phoneNumber: Receipient of airtime
    • amount: Amount sent. >= 10 && <= 10K

   airtime.send(options)
    .then(success)
    .catch(error);

Account

AfricasTalking.fetchAccount()
    .then(success)
    .catch(error);

• fetchAccount(): Fetch account info; i.e. balance