<!-- VanceTel docs · /docs/quickstart -->

# Quickstart

Send your first text message in three steps. Everything here works against the free Developer sandbox.

## 1. Get an API key

Create a key from your dashboard (or ask for sandbox access during your demo). Treat it like a password — it carries full account access. See [Authentication](/developers/docs/authentication) for details.

```bash
export NETEXEM_API_KEY="sk_test_…"
```

## 2. Send a message

One `POST` to `/v1/messages` sends an SMS from one of your numbers. The same message also appears in the softphone inbox in real time.

**curl**

```bash
curl https://api.netexem.com/v1/messages \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $NETEXEM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "from": "+15551234567",
    "to": "+15557654321",
    "body": "Hello from the API"
  }'
```

**Node**

```ts
const res = await fetch("https://api.netexem.com/v1/messages", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.NETEXEM_API_KEY}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    from: "+15551234567",
    to: "+15557654321",
    body: "Hello from the API",
  }),
});
const message = await res.json();
```

**Python**

```python
import os, requests

res = requests.post(
    "https://api.netexem.com/v1/messages",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['NETEXEM_API_KEY']}"},
    json={
        "from": "+15551234567",
        "to": "+15557654321",
        "body": "Hello from the API",
    },
)
message = res.json()
```

  Phone numbers use [E.164 format](/developers/glossary/e164) — a leading `+` and country code, e.g.
  `+15551234567`.

## 3. Receive the reply

When the recipient texts back, we send a signed `message.received` webhook to your endpoint and the conversation appears in the softphone. Set up your endpoint in [Webhooks](/developers/docs/webhooks).

## Next steps

- [Authentication](/developers/docs/authentication) — keys, scopes and rotation
- [Send an SMS](/developers/docs/sms) — the full message object, MMS and delivery receipts
- [API reference](/developers/docs/api-reference) — try every endpoint live