Skip to main content
An SMS Agent defines the settings Kero uses when sending SMS messages, including your Sender ID and message configuration. Before you can send SMS messages, your Kero account must have SMS connectivity configured.

​
Before you start

Kero provides SMS connectivity through BulkSMS. If you already have a BulkSMS account, it can be linked to your Kero account. If you don’t have one, Kero can help you configure SMS connectivity. Make sure that:
  • SMS connectivity has been configured for your Kero account.
  • You know which countries you intend to send messages to.
  • Any required Sender ID registration or approval has been completed, or is being arranged.
SMS Sender ID requirements vary by destination country and mobile network.Some countries require Sender IDs to be registered or approved before they can be used.Check SMS Sender ID requirements by country before sending to a new destination.

​
1. Create your SMS Agent

From your Kero account:
  1. Go to Channels.
  2. Select SMS.
  3. Select Create Agent.
You’ll be taken to the New SMS Agent page.

​
2. Enter your SMS Agent Name

Enter a name that will help you identify this SMS Agent in Kero. Choose a clear, descriptive name, particularly if you intend to use the Agent for other messaging features, such as SMS fallback. For example: Example UK SMS The SMS Agent Name is an internal identifier in Kero. Customers won’t see this name when they receive your SMS messages. The sender name or number displayed to recipients is determined by your SMS Sender ID, subject to destination-country and network requirements.

​
3. Set the maximum message parts

Choose the maximum number of SMS parts that Kero can use when sending a single message. Long SMS messages may be divided into multiple parts, depending on their length and character encoding. The default maximum is 30 parts.
Each SMS part is generally charged separately. A longer message may therefore cost more than a single-part SMS.Keeping messages concise can help reduce messaging costs.
For more information, see SMS message length & character limits.

​
4. Configure Unicode handling

The Automatically convert to Unicode setting controls how Kero handles message content that may require Unicode encoding. Standard SMS messages use the GSM character set. Characters outside this set, including many non-Latin characters and emojis, may require Unicode. Unicode supports a wider range of characters, but has lower character limits per SMS part. This can increase the number of parts used by a message.
Review your message content and SMS part count before sending, particularly if your messages contain special characters, symbols or emojis.
Learn more in SMS message length & character limits.

​
5. Select your SMS Sender ID

Select the SMS Sender ID you want to use for this Agent. The Sender ID identifies the sender of the message when it appears on the recipient’s device, subject to destination-country and mobile network rules. If your Kero account is already connected to BulkSMS, available Sender IDs will appear in the SMS Sender ID dropdown.
Only Sender IDs available for your SMS configuration will appear here.If the Sender ID you want to use isn’t available, it may need to be registered, approved or configured for your intended destination.
For additional guidance, see About SMS Sender IDs. If registration is required, see Register an SMS Sender ID.

​
6. Create the Agent

Once you’ve completed your SMS Agent settings, select Create. Your new SMS Agent will appear in your SMS Agents list.
Creating an SMS Agent does not override Sender ID registration requirements or destination-country messaging restrictions.Before sending, make sure your SMS connectivity and Sender ID are correctly configured for the countries you intend to reach.

​
What’s next?

Once your SMS Agent and sending configuration are ready, you can begin preparing messages for your customers. See Send an SMS message for step-by-step instructions.