> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.telnyx.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Traffic Type

> Configure your phone numbers as A2P or P2P traffic to optimize deliverability and unlock features like international messaging.

Traffic Type determines how carriers route your messages. Telnyx supports two types: **Application-to-Person (A2P)** for business messaging and **Person-to-Person (P2P)** for conversational traffic. Selecting the right type improves deliverability and unlocks features like international SMS.

<Callout type="info">
  All new numbers start as **A2P** by default. After Telnyx monitors your traffic pattern, eligible numbers can be switched to P2P.
</Callout>

## A2P vs P2P Comparison

| Feature               | A2P (Application-to-Person)           | P2P (Person-to-Person)                 |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Use case**          | Marketing, notifications, OTP, alerts | Conversational, support, 1:1 messaging |
| **Message volume**    | High volume expected                  | Lower volume, more interactive         |
| **Domestic SMS**      | ✅ Yes                                 | ✅ Yes                                  |
| **Domestic MMS**      | ✅ Yes                                 | ❌ No                                   |
| **International SMS** | ❌ No (uses alphanumeric fallback)     | ✅ Yes                                  |
| **International MMS** | ❌ No                                  | ❌ No                                   |
| **Carrier filtering** | Stricter (anti-spam rules apply)      | More lenient                           |
| **Pricing**           | Standard A2P rates                    | P2P rates (may differ)                 |

<Callout type="warning">
  Changing traffic types affects features and pricing. Switching to P2P **removes MMS support** but **enables international outbound SMS**.
</Callout>

## When to Use Each Type

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keep A2P" icon="building">
    Marketing campaigns, transactional alerts, OTP codes, appointment reminders—any automated business messaging.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Switch to P2P" icon="comments">
    Support conversations, two-way chat applications, international reach, or use cases requiring a more personal sender profile.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Callout type="info">
  **US A2P Messaging**: If you're sending A2P traffic in the United States using 10-digit long codes, you must register your brand and campaigns through [10DLC](/docs/messaging/10dlc/quickstart). Unregistered A2P traffic faces heavy filtering and delivery failures.
</Callout>

## How Eligibility Works

Telnyx monitors your messaging patterns to determine P2P eligibility:

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A[New Number] --> B[A2P Default]
    B --> C{Traffic Monitored}
    C -->|Conversational pattern| D[P2P Eligible]
    C -->|High volume/one-way| B
    D --> E{User Decision}
    E -->|Change to P2P| F[P2P Active]
    E -->|Keep A2P| B
```

The `eligible_messaging_products` field in the API response shows which options are available for your number.

## Prerequisites

* A [Telnyx account](https://telnyx.com/sign-up)
* A phone number assigned to a [Messaging Profile](https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/messaging)
* An [API key](https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/api-keys) (for API access)

***

## Check Traffic Type

Retrieve a number's current traffic type and eligibility using the Messaging Phone Numbers API.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="API">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash curl theme={null}
      curl -X GET "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/messaging_phone_numbers/YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      ```

      ```javascript Node theme={null}
      import Telnyx from 'telnyx';

      const client = new Telnyx({ apiKey: process.env.TELNYX_API_KEY });

      const response = await client.messagingPhoneNumbers.retrieve(
        '+15551234567'
      );

      console.log(`Current: ${response.data.messaging_product}`);
      console.log(`Eligible: ${response.data.eligible_messaging_products}`);
      ```

      ```python Python theme={null}
      import os
      from telnyx import Telnyx

      client = Telnyx(api_key=os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY"))

      response = client.messaging_phone_numbers.retrieve("+15551234567")

      print(f"Current: {response.data.messaging_product}")
      print(f"Eligible: {response.data.eligible_messaging_products}")
      ```

      ```ruby Ruby theme={null}
      require "telnyx"

      client = Telnyx::Client.new(api_key: ENV["TELNYX_API_KEY"])

      response = client.messaging_phone_numbers.retrieve("+15551234567")

      puts "Current: #{response.messaging_product}"
      puts "Eligible: #{response.eligible_messaging_products}"
      ```

      ```go Go theme={null}
      package main

      import (
        "context"
        "fmt"
        "os"

        "github.com/team-telnyx/telnyx-go"
        "github.com/team-telnyx/telnyx-go/option"
      )

      func main() {
        client := telnyx.NewClient(
          option.WithAPIKey(os.Getenv("TELNYX_API_KEY")),
        )

        response, err := client.MessagingPhoneNumbers.Retrieve(
          context.TODO(),
          "+15551234567",
        )
        if err != nil {
          panic(err.Error())
        }

        fmt.Printf("Current: %s\n", response.Data.MessagingProduct)
        fmt.Printf("Eligible: %v\n", response.Data.EligibleMessagingProducts)
      }
      ```

      ```java Java theme={null}
      package com.telnyx.example;

      import com.telnyx.sdk.client.TelnyxClient;
      import com.telnyx.sdk.client.okhttp.TelnyxOkHttpClient;
      import com.telnyx.sdk.models.messagingphonenumbers.*;

      public final class Main {
          public static void main(String[] args) {
              TelnyxClient client = TelnyxOkHttpClient.fromEnv();

              MessagingPhoneNumberRetrieveResponse response = client.messagingPhoneNumbers()
                  .retrieve("+15551234567");

              System.out.println("Current: " + response.data().messagingProduct());
              System.out.println("Eligible: " + response.data().eligibleMessagingProducts());
          }
      }
      ```

      ```csharp .NET theme={null}
      using System;
      using Telnyx;

      TelnyxConfiguration.SetApiKey(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TELNYX_API_KEY"));

      var service = new MessagingPhoneNumberService();
      var number = service.Retrieve("+15551234567");

      Console.WriteLine($"Current: {number.MessagingProduct}");
      Console.WriteLine($"Eligible: {string.Join(", ", number.EligibleMessagingProducts)}");
      ```

      ```php PHP theme={null}
      <?php
      require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

      \Telnyx\Telnyx::setApiKey(getenv('TELNYX_API_KEY'));

      $number = \Telnyx\MessagingPhoneNumber::retrieve("+15551234567");

      echo "Current: " . $number->messaging_product . "\n";
      echo "Eligible: " . implode(", ", $number->eligible_messaging_products) . "\n";
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Portal">
    1. Go to [Numbers](https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/numbers/my-numbers) in the portal
    2. Find your number and click the **Messaging** icon (SMS bubble)
    3. View the **Traffic Type** section to see current type and available options

           <img src="https://mintcdn.com/telnyx/M104dP2YWeqFiyN4/img/traffic-type-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M104dP2YWeqFiyN4&q=85&s=6e7e1cd6dbe5bc56df7465bf3737b0a9" alt="Traffic Type in Portal" width="515" height="121" data-path="img/traffic-type-1.png" />
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response Fields

The API response includes key fields for understanding your number's messaging configuration:

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "phone_number": "+15551234567",
    "messaging_product": "A2P",
    "traffic_type": "A2P",
    "eligible_messaging_products": ["A2P", "P2P"],
    "health": {
      "message_count": 85,
      "inbound_outbound_ratio": 0.43,
      "success_ratio": 0.95,
      "spam_ratio": 0.03
    },
    "features": {
      "sms": {
        "domestic_two_way": true,
        "international_inbound": false,
        "international_outbound": false
      },
      "mms": {
        "domestic_two_way": true,
        "international_inbound": false,
        "international_outbound": false
      }
    }
  }
}
```

| Field                           | Description                           |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `messaging_product`             | Current traffic type (`A2P` or `P2P`) |
| `traffic_type`                  | Alias for `messaging_product`         |
| `eligible_messaging_products`   | Available options for this number     |
| `health.message_count`          | Recent message volume                 |
| `health.inbound_outbound_ratio` | Ratio of inbound to outbound messages |
| `health.success_ratio`          | Delivery success rate                 |
| `health.spam_ratio`             | Spam/block rate                       |
| `features.sms`                  | SMS capabilities by direction         |
| `features.mms`                  | MMS capabilities by direction         |

<Tip>
  A low `inbound_outbound_ratio` (mostly outbound) typically indicates A2P usage, while higher ratios suggest conversational P2P patterns.
</Tip>

***

## Change Traffic Type

If your number is eligible for both A2P and P2P (check `eligible_messaging_products`), you can switch between them.

<Callout type="warning">
  **Feature changes take effect immediately.** Switching to P2P disables MMS but enables international SMS. Review the [comparison table](#a2p-vs-p2p-comparison) before changing.
</Callout>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="API">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash curl theme={null}
      curl -X PATCH "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/messaging_phone_numbers/YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
        -d '{"messaging_product": "P2P"}'
      ```

      ```javascript Node theme={null}
      import Telnyx from 'telnyx';

      const client = new Telnyx({ apiKey: process.env.TELNYX_API_KEY });

      const response = await client.messagingPhoneNumbers.update(
        '+15551234567',
        { messaging_product: 'P2P' }
      );

      console.log(`Changed to: ${response.data.messaging_product}`);
      console.log(`International SMS: ${response.data.features.sms.international_outbound}`);
      ```

      ```python Python theme={null}
      import os
      from telnyx import Telnyx

      client = Telnyx(api_key=os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY"))

      response = client.messaging_phone_numbers.update(
          "+15551234567",
          messaging_product="P2P"
      )

      print(f"Changed to: {response.data.messaging_product}")
      print(f"International SMS: {response.data.features.sms.international_outbound}")
      ```

      ```ruby Ruby theme={null}
      require "telnyx"

      client = Telnyx::Client.new(api_key: ENV["TELNYX_API_KEY"])

      response = client.messaging_phone_numbers.update(
        "+15551234567",
        messaging_product: "P2P"
      )

      puts "Changed to: #{response.messaging_product}"
      puts "International SMS: #{response.features.sms.international_outbound}"
      ```

      ```go Go theme={null}
      package main

      import (
        "context"
        "fmt"
        "os"

        "github.com/team-telnyx/telnyx-go"
        "github.com/team-telnyx/telnyx-go/option"
      )

      func main() {
        client := telnyx.NewClient(
          option.WithAPIKey(os.Getenv("TELNYX_API_KEY")),
        )

        response, err := client.MessagingPhoneNumbers.Update(
          context.TODO(),
          "+15551234567",
          telnyx.MessagingPhoneNumberUpdateParams{
            MessagingProduct: telnyx.String("P2P"),
          },
        )
        if err != nil {
          panic(err.Error())
        }

        fmt.Printf("Changed to: %s\n", response.Data.MessagingProduct)
        fmt.Printf("International SMS: %v\n", response.Data.Features.SMS.InternationalOutbound)
      }
      ```

      ```java Java theme={null}
      package com.telnyx.example;

      import com.telnyx.sdk.client.TelnyxClient;
      import com.telnyx.sdk.client.okhttp.TelnyxOkHttpClient;
      import com.telnyx.sdk.models.messagingphonenumbers.*;

      public final class Main {
          public static void main(String[] args) {
              TelnyxClient client = TelnyxOkHttpClient.fromEnv();

              MessagingPhoneNumberUpdateParams params = MessagingPhoneNumberUpdateParams.builder()
                  .messagingProduct("P2P")
                  .build();

              MessagingPhoneNumberUpdateResponse response = client.messagingPhoneNumbers()
                  .update("+15551234567", params);

              System.out.println("Changed to: " + response.data().messagingProduct());
              System.out.println("International SMS: " + response.data().features().sms().internationalOutbound());
          }
      }
      ```

      ```csharp .NET theme={null}
      using System;
      using Telnyx;

      TelnyxConfiguration.SetApiKey(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TELNYX_API_KEY"));

      var service = new MessagingPhoneNumberService();
      var options = new MessagingPhoneNumberUpdateOptions
      {
          MessagingProduct = "P2P"
      };

      var number = service.Update("+15551234567", options);

      Console.WriteLine($"Changed to: {number.MessagingProduct}");
      Console.WriteLine($"International SMS: {number.Features.Sms.InternationalOutbound}");
      ```

      ```php PHP theme={null}
      <?php
      require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

      \Telnyx\Telnyx::setApiKey(getenv('TELNYX_API_KEY'));

      $number = \Telnyx\MessagingPhoneNumber::update("+15551234567", [
          "messaging_product" => "P2P"
      ]);

      echo "Changed to: " . $number->messaging_product . "\n";
      echo "International SMS: " . ($number->features->sms->international_outbound ? "true" : "false") . "\n";
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Portal">
    1. Go to [Numbers](https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/numbers/my-numbers) in the portal
    2. Find your number and click the **Messaging** icon (SMS bubble)
    3. Under **Traffic Type**, select your preferred option
    4. Click **Save**

    <Callout type="info">
      If the radio buttons are grayed out, your number isn't eligible for P2P yet. Continue using the number with conversational traffic patterns and check back later.
    </Callout>

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/telnyx/M104dP2YWeqFiyN4/img/traffic-type-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M104dP2YWeqFiyN4&q=85&s=a309e32485605ed19c071887f2698051" alt="Change Traffic Type in Portal" width="531" height="121" data-path="img/traffic-type-2.png" />
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### After Changing to P2P

Your number's features will update immediately:

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "phone_number": "+15551234567",
    "messaging_product": "P2P",
    "traffic_type": "P2P",
    "features": {
      "sms": {
        "domestic_two_way": true,
        "international_inbound": true,
        "international_outbound": true
      },
      "mms": {}
    }
  }
}
```

Note that:

* `mms` section is now empty (MMS disabled)
* `international_outbound` is now `true` for SMS
* Pricing may change—check your [rate sheet](https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/reports/rates)

***

## International Messaging with P2P

Once your number is configured for P2P, you can send SMS internationally:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/messages" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -d '{
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+447700900123",
      "text": "Hello from the US!"
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import os
  from telnyx import Telnyx

  client = Telnyx(api_key=os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY"))

  response = client.messages.create(
      from_="+15551234567",  # Your P2P number
      to="+447700900123",    # UK number
      text="Hello from the US!"
  )

  print(f"Sent: {response.data.id}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node theme={null}
  import Telnyx from 'telnyx';

  const client = new Telnyx({ apiKey: process.env.TELNYX_API_KEY });

  const response = await client.messages.create({
    from: '+15551234567',   // Your P2P number
    to: '+447700900123',    // UK number
    text: 'Hello from the US!'
  });

  console.log(`Sent: ${response.data.id}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Callout type="tip">
  If you try to send internationally from an **A2P** number, Telnyx will automatically fall back to an alphanumeric sender (like "Telnyx") where supported.
</Callout>

***

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Number not eligible for P2P">
  **Cause**: Telnyx hasn't observed enough conversational traffic to qualify the number for P2P.

  **Solutions**:

  1. Continue using the number with conversational (two-way) messaging
  2. Wait for the next eligibility review cycle
  3. Contact [Telnyx support](https://support.telnyx.com) if you believe your traffic qualifies
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Lost MMS after switching to P2P">
  **Cause**: P2P traffic type doesn't support MMS—this is expected behavior.

  **Solutions**:

  1. Switch back to A2P if you need MMS
  2. Use a separate A2P number for MMS messages
  3. For mixed use cases, maintain both A2P and P2P numbers
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="International messages still failing">
  **Cause**: Destination country may require sender registration, or the number isn't fully switched.

  **Solutions**:

  1. Verify the number shows `messaging_product: "P2P"` in the API response
  2. Check if the destination country requires sender pre-registration
  3. Confirm `features.sms.international_outbound` is `true`
  4. Review webhook delivery reports for specific error codes
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can't switch back to A2P">
  **Cause**: The number may have lost A2P eligibility based on traffic patterns.

  **Solutions**:

  1. Check `eligible_messaging_products` to confirm A2P is still an option
  2. Contact [Telnyx support](https://support.telnyx.com) if A2P eligibility is unexpectedly missing
</Accordion>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Number Pool" icon="layer-group" href="/docs/messaging/messages/number-pool">
    Distribute messages across multiple numbers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate Limiting" icon="gauge-high" href="/docs/messaging/messages/rate-limiting">
    Understand messaging throughput limits
  </Card>

  <Card title="10DLC Registration" icon="certificate" href="/docs/messaging/10dlc/quickstart">
    Register for A2P 10DLC compliance in the US
  </Card>

  <Card title="Alphanumeric Sender" icon="font" href="/docs/messaging/messages/alphanumeric-sender-id">
    Send internationally with branded sender IDs
  </Card>
</CardGroup>