Assigning Phone Numbers to a Campaign
To send US application (A2P) SMS from a number, that number must be linked to an approved campaign and belong to a messaging profile. Creating the campaign and buying the number aren't enough on their own — this article covers the step that ties a number to a campaign so the carrier will accept its traffic.
Manage assignments from the campaign detail page: open Campaigns → 10DLC, pick a campaign, and scroll to the Phone Numbers section.
Before you start
- The campaign must be live. Numbers can only be assigned once the campaign is fully approved by the carriers (shown as Live on the campaign page). Assigning earlier would just be rejected. See Creating a 10DLC Campaign.
- The number must be on a messaging profile. Only numbers already assigned to a profile are eligible. See Creating a Messaging Profile.
- One campaign per number. A number can belong to at most one campaign at a time. To move it, unassign it first.
Step 1: Open the campaign
Go to the campaign detail page. If the campaign is live, you'll see an Assign numbers button in the Phone Numbers section. If it isn't live yet, that section explains numbers can be assigned once it is.
Step 2: Assign numbers
Click Assign numbers. The dialog lists every eligible number — those on a messaging profile and not already on another campaign. Select one or more and confirm.
Numbers already on a different campaign, or not yet on a profile, won't appear in the list. Assign a number to a profile first (see Managing Your Phone Numbers), then come back here.
Step 3: Wait for assignment to complete
Assignment is handled by the carrier and isn't instant — it usually takes a few minutes, occasionally longer. Each number shows a status:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Submitted to the carrier; assignment in progress. |
| Assigned | Live on the campaign — the number can now send under it. |
| Failed | The carrier rejected the assignment. The reason is shown beneath the status. |
Click Refresh status to pull the latest state from the carrier. A number stays Pending until the carrier confirms it.
Removing a number
Use the trash icon next to a number to unassign it. The number stays in your account and on its messaging profile — it just stops sending under this campaign. You can reassign it (here or to another campaign) at any time.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No Assign numbers button | The campaign isn't live yet. Wait for approval — watch status on the campaign page and the Compliance Inbox. |
| A number isn't in the assign list | It's missing a messaging profile, or it's already on another campaign. Fix the profile assignment or unassign it from the other campaign first. |
| Status stuck on Pending | Carrier assignment can take a while. Click Refresh status; if it persists for an extended period, open a support ticket. |
| Status shows Failed | Read the reason under the status. Confirm the campaign is fully approved and the number is on a profile, then try again. |
Via the API
You can manage assignments programmatically. See api.otterblocx.com/docs:
GET /campaigns/{id}/phone-numbers— list assigned numbers and their statusPOST /campaigns/{id}/phone-numbers/assign— assign numbersPOST /campaigns/{id}/phone-numbers/unassign— unassign numbersPOST /campaigns/{id}/phone-numbers/sync— refresh assignment status from the carrier