Send Sinch MMS Messages with Next.js and Node.js - code-examples -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a Next.js API route as your backend to handle communication with the Sinch XMS API. Create a form on your frontend to collect recipient details, message body, and media URL, then send a POST request to the API route, which will interact with Sinch to send the MMS.
The Sinch XMS API is the core service that handles sending MMS messages. Your Next.js API route interacts with its `/batches` endpoint, sending a specifically formatted JSON payload to trigger the message dispatch.
Storing sensitive information like API tokens directly in your code is a security risk. Environment variables (like those in `.env.local`) provide a secure way to manage and access these credentials without exposing them in your codebase.
Input validation is crucial on both the client-side (in your form) and server-side (in your API route). This prevents bad data from reaching the Sinch API and causing errors. Validate for missing fields, correct phone number format (E.164), and valid media URLs.
Yes, the built-in `fetch` API can be used instead of `axios` to make the API call to Sinch. The core logic for constructing the request remains the same, just the syntax for making the HTTP request will differ slightly.
Implement error handling in your API route to catch potential errors during the API call to Sinch. Log the errors server-side, return specific error codes/messages to the frontend, and consider implementing retry mechanisms with exponential backoff for transient errors.
The API route acts as your serverless backend. It receives requests from the frontend, constructs the payload for the Sinch API (including recipient, message, and media URL), makes the API call, and returns the result (success or error) to the frontend.
The payload should be a JSON object sent to the Sinch `/batches` endpoint. It must include the recipient's number (`to`), the message body (`body`), and the publicly accessible `mediaUrl`. Authentication is handled via headers, using Bearer authorization with your Sinch API token.
You'll need a Sinch account with an MMS-enabled number, your Sinch API credentials (Service Plan ID and API Token), Node.js and npm/yarn, a publicly accessible media URL, and the Next.js project setup as described in the article.
Use environment variables to store API credentials, implement thorough input validation on both frontend and backend, enforce HTTPS for all communication, consider rate limiting, and use authentication/authorization to protect your API route if needed.
Log in to your Sinch Dashboard and navigate to the SMS/Messaging API section. Find the REST API configuration area to locate your Service Plan ID and API Token. Copy these securely.
Sinch requires the E.164 format for phone numbers (e.g., +12125551234). Validate and enforce this format on both your frontend and API route to prevent errors.
Verify that the `mediaUrl` you're providing is publicly accessible by Sinch. Also, check Sinch's documentation for any file type or size restrictions that might be causing the issue. If the URL requires any sort of authentication it will not be fetchable by Sinch.
Double-check your `SINCH_API_TOKEN`, `SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID`, and `SINCH_API_BASE_URL` in your `.env.local` file and your deployment environment variables. Ensure the Authorization header has the correct `Bearer` prefix and that these values match exactly what is in your Sinch dashboard.
It means Sinch has successfully received your MMS request and added it to its queue for processing. It does *not* guarantee immediate delivery. You'll need to rely on Sinch's delivery reports for actual delivery status.