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Send a WhatsApp Message Template (MTM)

In this code snippet you learn how to send a WhatsApp Message Template Message (MTM) using the Messages API.

IMPORTANT: If a customer messages you, you have 24 hours to respond to the customer with a free-form message. After this period you must use a message template (MTM). If a customer has not messaged you first, then the first time you send a message to a user, WhatsApp requires that the message contains a template. This is explained in more detail in the Understanding WhatsApp topic.

Example

Ensure the following variables are set to your required values using any convenient method:

Key Description
BASE_URL For production use the base URL is https://api.nexmo.com/. For sandbox testing the base URL is https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/.
MESSAGES_API_URL For production use the Messages API endpoint is https://api.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages. For sandbox testing the Messages API endpoint is https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages.
WHATSAPP_NUMBER The WhatsApp number that has been allocated to you by Vonage. For sandbox testing the number is 14157386170.
TO_NUMBER Replace with the number you are sending to. E.g. 447700900001
WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAMESPACE The namespace ID found in your WhatsApp Business Account. Only templates created in your own namespace will work. Using an template with a namespace outside of your own results in an error code 1022 being returned. For sandbox testing the supported namespace is 9b6b4fcb_da19_4a26_8fe8_78074a91b584.
WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAME The name of the template created in your WhatsApp Business Account. For sandbox testing the verify template is currently available. Refer to this table for new templates as they become available.

NOTE: Don't use a leading + or 00 when entering a phone number, start with the country code, for example, 447700900000.

  • cURL
  • Node.js

    • Prerequisites

    If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

    Write the code

    Add the following to send-mtm.sh:

    curl -X POST $MESSAGES_API_URL \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer' $JWT \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
   "from":{
      "type":"whatsapp",
      "number":"$WHATSAPP_NUMBER"
   },
   "to":{
      "type":"whatsapp",
      "number":"$TO_NUMBER"
   },
   "message":{
      "content":{
         "type":"template",
         "template":{
            "name": "'$WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAMESPACE':'$WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAME'",
            "parameters":[
               {
                  "default":"Vonage Verification"
               },
               {
                  "default":"64873"
               },
               {
                  "default":"10"
               }
            ]
         }
      },
      "whatsapp": {
        "policy": "deterministic",
        "locale": "en-GB"
      }
   }
}'

    View full source

    Run your code

    Save this file to your machine and run it: 

    bash send-mtm.sh

    Prerequisites

    If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks. 

    npm install @vonage/server-sdk@beta

    Write the code

    Add the following to send-template.js:

    const Vonage = require('@vonage/server-sdk');

const vonage = new Vonage(
    {
        apiKey: VONAGE_API_KEY,
        apiSecret: VONAGE_API_SECRET,
        applicationId: VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID,
        privateKey: VONAGE_APPLICATION_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH,
    },
    {
        apiHost: BASE_URL,
    }
);

vonage.channel.send(
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: TO_NUMBER },
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: WHATSAPP_NUMBER },
    {
        content: {
            type: 'template',
            template: {
                name: `${WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAMESPACE}:${WHATSAPP_TEMPLATE_NAME}`,
                parameters: [
                    {
                        default: 'Vonage Verification',
                    },
                    {
                        default: '64873',
                    },
                    {
                        default: '10',
                    },
                ],
            },
        },
        whatsapp: {
            policy: 'deterministic',
            locale: 'en',
        },
    },
    (err, data) => {
        if (err) {
            console.error(err);
        } else {
            console.log(data.message_uuid);
        }
    }
);

    View full source

    Run your code

    Save this file to your machine and run it: 

    node send-template.js

    Try it out

    When you run the code a WhatsApp message template (MTM) is sent to the destination number.

    Further information

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