specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: SMSAPI
providerId: smsapi
created: '2026-07-01'
modified: '2026-07-01'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Messaging
- SMS
- MMS
- Voice
- 2FA
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of SMSAPI spend. SMSAPI uses a prepaid credit ("points") model:
  every SMS, MMS, VMS voice message, HLR lookup, and 2FA delivery draws down a
  topped-up balance at a per-message rate that depends on destination country,
  operator, message length (segments), and negotiated volume. Because charges
  are prepaid and per-message, cost governance centers on tracking points burn
  per subuser/route, right-sizing message length and encoding, and negotiating
  volume rates.
notes: >-
  SMSAPI is part of LINK Mobility. Per-message rates are destination- and
  volume-dependent; verify against the SMSAPI pricing page and customer-panel
  usage reports during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://www.smsapi.com/en/prices
- https://www.smsapi.com/docs/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: SMSAPI
serviceCategory: Communications
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Prepaid
  billingCurrency: Multi-currency (EUR/PLN/USD)
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: SMSAPI Messaging
  ServiceCategory: Communications
  ProviderName: SMSAPI
  PublisherName: SMSAPI
  InvoiceIssuerName: SMSAPI (LINK Mobility)
  BillingCurrency: EUR
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: sms_segments
  description: SMS message segments sent, billed per segment by destination and operator.
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - subuser
  - country
  - sender
- name: mms_messages
  description: MMS multimedia messages sent, billed per message by destination.
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - subuser
  - country
- name: vms_calls
  description: VMS voice messages delivered, billed per call by destination and duration.
  unit: calls
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - subuser
  - country
- name: two_fa_messages
  description: 2FA one-time-passcode deliveries, billed as the underlying SMS or voice message.
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - channel
- name: hlr_lookups
  description: HLR number-validation lookups, billed per lookup.
  unit: lookups
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - country
- name: points_balance
  description: Prepaid credit (points) topped up and drawn down across all messaging.
  unit: points
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - subuser
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Pull customer-panel usage reports and delivery callbacks; track points burn per subuser, country, and sender.
- name: Allocation
  description: Use subusers and per-token separation to map messaging spend to teams, campaigns, or clients.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size message length and encoding to reduce segment count; batch recipients; run HLR before large sends to drop invalid numbers; negotiate volume rates.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per subuser/route; monitor prepaid balance and set top-up alerts to avoid send interruptions.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com