What is E.164?
E.164 is an international standard for phone number formatting developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It ensures that each phone number is globally unique and can be dialed from anywhere in the world—essential for businesses that communicate across borders.
By following E.164, you help ensure messages are delivered correctly and consistently, without formatting issues or misrouted communications.
Key Components of E.164
Country Code (CC): A 1–3 digit code identifying the country.
National Destination Code (NDC): Defines the area or network within the country (may vary depending on local regulations).
Contact Number (SN): The individual's unique phone number (excluding country/area codes).
Formatting in E.164
E.164 numbers follow this pattern::
[+][country code][contact number including area code]
Start with a
+sign.No spaces, dashes, or parentheses.
Total length: up to 15 digits, including the country code.
Example:
A U.S. number like (408) 555-1234 becomes:+14085551234
Formatting Phone Numbers in CSV Files:
When uploading contact lists to the Digital Engagement Platform, phone numbers must be in E.164 format. This ensures successful processing and message delivery.
CSV Example
Name, Email, Phone Number
John Doe,john07@awsdomain.com,+14085551234
Jane Smith,jane9807@awsdomain.com,+442070313000
Carlos Ruiz,cr2002@awsdomain.com,+573154867890
Note:
Remove all leading or trailing spaces—these can cause import errors.
Don’t include formatting characters like dashes or parentheses.
Formatting Phone Numbers for API Calls
If you’re using Messangi’s API to send messages, the recipient field must also follow E.164 formatting.
API Request Example
{
"from": "12345",
"text": "Hello, John! Thanks for signing up.",
"to": "+580000000005"
}Best practices:
No spaces or special characters.
Validate the number format before sending the request.
Why it matters:
Using the correct format isn’t just a technicality—it ensures:
Your messages are delivered without errors.
Your data is compliant with international standards.
Your systems integrate smoothly with messaging platforms like Messangi.
Need help?
If you have questions about formatting or run into any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We’re happy to guide you through it!