Register phone numbers for WhatsApp messaging

For a customer to receive WhatsApp messages, they must have a valid phone number and be registered as a WhatsApp platform subscriber in Pushwoosh.

Additionally, WhatsApp requires businesses to obtain opt-in consent from customers before messaging them. For guidelines on obtaining consent, refer to WhatsApp Opt-In Best Practices.

There are three main methods to register phone numbers as WhatsApp subscribers:

Register phone numbers for WhatsApp with Pushwoosh SDK

Using the Pushwoosh SDK, you can register a user’s phone number for WhatsApp messaging.

iOS

To register a user’s phone number for WhatsApp on iOS, use the following method:

- (void)registerWhatsappNumber:(NSString * _Nonnull)number;

Example

Pushwoosh.sharedInstance().registerWhatsappNumber(@"+0000000000");

Replace +0000000000 with the actual phone number in E.164 format (including the “+” sign and country code).

Android

To register a user’s phone number for WhatsApp on Android, use the following method:

Pushwoosh.getInstance().registerWhatsappNumber(String number);

Example

Pushwoosh.getInstance().registerWhatsappNumber("+0000000000");

Replace +0000000000 with the user’s actual phone number in E.164 format, including the “+” and country code.

Register phone numbers for WhatsApp with Pushwoosh API

You can also register WhatsApp subscribers through the Pushwoosh API:

• Use the registerDevice API method to register phone numbers directly for WhatsApp messaging.

• Enable auto-registration when sending a message via createWhatsAppMessage. This method will automatically register any unregistered WhatsApp numbers specified in the request.

Upload WhatsApp contacts via CSV

To import your WhatsApp contacts, upload a CSV file containing your contact list. Contacts imported from the CSV file will be registered as subscribers for the WhatsApp platform. You can also include additional data for each contact (e.g., name, gender, location) to enable audience segmentation and personalization of your WhatsApp communications.

Prepare your CSV file

1. Ensure your CSV file includes the WhatsApp phone numbers, along with any additional fields you’d like to use for personalization (e.g., recipient name, gender, location). Note: It is important to import phone numbers in E.164 format, including the “+” and country code.

2. The maximum file size for import is 100 MB.

Upload your CSV file

To upload the file:

1. Go to Audience > Import CSV

1. Click Upload CSV and select your prepared CSV file from your computer.

Once uploaded, your contacts will be registered as WhatsApp platform subscribers. You can then use this data to create segmented and personalized WhatsApp campaigns. Learn more