Support
2022-06-23T11:43:40Z
Is it possible to receive a message on a Virtual Number to a Telegram Chat?
Support
2022-06-23T11:58:37Z
Yes this is possible. Using the HTTPS forwarding feature of the IntelliSoftware Virtual Dedicated Number, it is possible to forward messages to a Chat on Telegram

Telegram Setup

1) Open Telegram messenger, sign in to your account or create a new one

2) Create a bot:
  • Enter @Botfather in the search tab and choose the @Botfather bot
  • Click “Start” to activate BotFather bot.
  • Choose or type the /newbot command and send it
  • Enter bot name e.g. IntelliSMS
  • Enter a username for the bot, e.g. IntelliSMSBot
  • The reply will include the token to access the HTTP API, record this to use later

3) Created a Channel:
  • Click "New channel"
  • Enter Channel name: TestChannel
  • Click "Next"
  • Select "Private channel"
  • Click "Save"

4) Create the chat:
  • Open the channel TestChannel
  • On the channel menu, select "Manage Channel"
  • Click on "Add a group" in the discussion
  • Click on "Create a new group"
  • Group name: TestChannelChat
  • Click "Create"
  • Click "Save"

5) Add the bot to the new group:
  • Open the group TestChannelChat
  • On the right panel, I click "add member"
  • Add the bot IntelliSMSBot
  • Click "Add"
  • Right click on the newly added user in the chat and select "Promote to admin"
  • Click "Save"

6) Get the chat id:
  • Invite @RawDataBot to your group (TestChannelChat).
  • Upon joining it will output a JSON file where your chat id will be located at message.chat.id, record this to use later
       "message": {
            "chat": {
                "id": -5645626768,
                "title": ...,
               "type": "group",
                ...
           }
           ...
       }
    Be sure to kick @RawDataBot from your group afterwards.


IntelliSoftware Setup

1) Login to your IntelliSoftware SMS account
  • Configure SMS forwarding:
  • Click on Settings (along the top)
  • Click on Forwarding (on the left)
  • Check ‘Enable incoming message forwarding’ for your virtual number
  • Select Forwarding Type: HTTP
  • Entry URL:
    https://api.telegram.org/bot{HTTP API Access Token}/sendMessage?chat_id={Chat Id}
    Replace {HTTP API Access Token} and {Chat Id} with the values previously obtained (do not include the curly brackets).
    NOTE: Do not miss the 'bot' before the {HTTP API Access Token}