What is Hosting a Number?
If you have a number already and want to use it to send texts from Twilio - while still using this number for calls with a different vendor, you need to host it with Twilio.
Landline numbers will take up to 24 hours to be hosted, while toll-free number can take 48-72 hours to be hosted.
If you would like to fully transfer the number to Twilio and plan on using their Voice capabilities rather than your current voice provider, you will need to port your number - you can learn how to do that here.
Note: Only numbers from the US and Canada can be hosted with Twilio
Getting Started
1. On your Twilio dashboard, go to Phone Numbers > Port & Host > Host Numbers
2. Click the + in the top left
3. From the pop-up, you will need to add a name (for the hosting request), list the phone numbers. Leave the status callback blank and click Continue. Leave incoming message webhook and callback webhook blank, and click Submit.
4. Twilio will call the number to pass a confirmation token to you, so be sure to have the phone on hand! Note: If the number is automatically moved into a "Ready for letter of authorization" state, skip to Step 5.
5. Once your Hosted number has moved to a "Ready for letter of authorization" state, the Hosted number will have to be electronically placed on a new Letter of Authorization (LoA).
The email specified on the LoA will receive an email from HelloSign to electronically sign the document. The document should be signed by the end-user answering the phone number.
6. After the LoA is signed, the Hosted SMS orders assigned to the LoA will move into a carrier-processing status.
Note Landline numbers will take up to one business day, while Toll-Free numbers can take up to 2-3 business days.
7. Once the number has been successfully registered for SMS with Twilio, the number will move to the testing status for a short period, to ensure inbound SMS connectivity is functional.
8. When testing is successful, the Hosted SMS Order will move to completed and your Hosted SMS will move to in-use.