[!NOTE]
New to telecommunications or API integrations? This reference guide explains all common telecom, payment, and authentication terms in simple, plain English.
| Term |
Full Name |
Plain English Explanation |
Example |
| MSISDN |
Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number |
A mobile phone number formatted with its international country calling code. |
94771234567 (Sri Lanka: 94 + 77...) |
| Encrypted MSISDN |
Encrypted Mobile Number |
An anonymous token representing a user's phone number, created to protect user privacy during mobile web browsing. |
etel:+9477-vl%1D... |
| Shortcode / Port |
Application Port |
A short 4-to-6 digit phone number assigned to your business application by Dialog for sending and receiving SMS. |
87798 |
| Sender Mask |
Alphanumeric Sender ID |
An approved brand name that appears on the user's phone screen instead of a numeric phone number. |
MYBRAND |
| MO |
Mobile Originated |
A message or session started by the customer from their mobile handset (e.g., customer texts your shortcode). |
Customer sends "HELP" to 87798 |
| MT |
Mobile Terminated |
A message sent from your application ending at the customer's mobile phone (e.g., an OTP or alert). |
App sends OTP to customer |
| USSD |
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data |
Real-time interactive text menus triggered on basic and smartphones by dialing numbers with * and #. |
Dialing #777# |
| MCC / MNC |
Mobile Country Code / Mobile Network Code |
International standards identifying a country and its cellular carrier. |
MCC 413 (Sri Lanka), MNC 02 (Dialog) |
| HE |
Header Enrichment |
A mobile network technology where Dialog automatically identifies a user's cellular connection when they visit your site. |
1-click mobile subscriptions |
Security & Authentication Terms
| Term |
What is it? |
Plain English Explanation |
| OAuth 2.0 |
Authentication Standard |
The industry-standard protocol Ideabiz uses to verify that your app has permission to call APIs. |
| Consumer Key |
Client ID |
Your application's unique public username on the Ideabiz portal. |
| Consumer Secret |
Client Secret |
Your application's confidential master password. Never share this or commit it to public code. |
| Basic Auth |
Basic Authorization Header |
A single string created by combining ConsumerKey:ConsumerSecret into Base64 format. Used only to obtain tokens. |
| Access Token |
Bearer Token |
A temporary passport valid for 1 hour (3,600s). Must be sent in the header of every API call. |
| Refresh Token |
Token Renewer |
A special companion key used to get a new Access Token without having to enter your username and password again. |
Web & API Terms
| Term |
What is it? |
Plain English Explanation |
| Endpoint |
API URL |
The web address your code calls to perform an action (e.g., https://ideabiz.lk/apicall/smsmessaging/...). |
| HTTP Method |
Action Type |
The verb indicating what you want to do:
• GET: Read data (e.g., check balance)
• POST: Create or trigger an action (e.g., send SMS, charge money) |
| Webhook / Callback |
Reverse API Call |
A URL on your server that Ideabiz calls when an event happens (e.g., when an SMS is delivered or when a user pays). |
| Payload / Body |
Request Data |
The JSON or form data sent along with an HTTP request containing the details (e.g., message text, phone number, amount). |
| Rate Limiting / TPS |
Transactions Per Second |
The maximum number of API calls your application is allowed to make per second before the server throttles requests (HTTP 503). |
Payment & Wallet Terms
| Term |
Plain English Explanation |
| eZ Cash |
Dialog's mobile money wallet service allowing users to pay, transfer money, and make merchant purchases from their phone. |
| AOTC |
Agent Over The Counter: An eZ Cash transaction scenario where an authorized merchant or agent initiates a transaction on behalf of an end-customer. |
| Prepaid |
A phone plan where the customer pays for airtime credit before using services. |
| Postpaid |
A phone plan where the customer receives a monthly bill and is given a designated credit limit. |