--- title: Buy and manage virtual phone numbers (DIDs) url: https://help.telecomsxchange.com/buyers/virtual-numbers-dids/ audience: For Buyers summary: "Go to DIDs \u2192 Market View, search by prefix, country or description,\ \ click Buy, enter the SIP endpoint for a voice number or the SMPP endpoint for\ \ an SMS number, choose the billing account and click Complete Purchase. The setup\ \ fee and first recurring fee are charged straight away." updated: '2026-10-21' verified_commit: 83b4ebc96d0081a25213776d5a8871bd04941125 --- # Buy and manage virtual phone numbers (DIDs) > Go to DIDs → Market View, search by prefix, country or description, click Buy, enter the SIP endpoint for a voice number or the SMPP endpoint for an SMS number, choose the billing account and click Complete Purchase. The setup fee and first recurring fee are charged straight away. ## How traffic on your number reaches you 1. **Seller's number**: Listed in DIDs Market View; KYC may apply 2. **TelecomsXchange** (via inbound call or SMS): Bills voice, SMS and recurring fees 3. **Your server** (via `sip:user@domain:port`): Primary SIP, optional failover, or SMPP endpoint Sellers list local, mobile, toll-free and other virtual phone numbers (DIDs) in the DID marketplace. You buy a number, point it at your SIP or SMPP server, and receive calls or SMS on it. ## Before you start - [Add funds](https://help.telecomsxchange.com/buyers/add-funds/) to the account you'll bill the number to. The setup fee and first recurring fee are charged at purchase. - [Create an account](https://help.telecomsxchange.com/buyers/create-your-first-account/) if you don't have one. If it has an IP address, the purchase page fills in your SIP or SMPP endpoint from it. ## How do I find a number? 1. Go to **DIDs → Market View**. 2. Enter a **Number Prefix**, **Country** or **Description**. At least one of them is required. 3. Narrow the search if you like with **Seller**, **DID Type** (**National**, **Mobile**, **Toll Free** or **Special**), **Local Requirements** (**Any** or **Local Only**) and **Capabilities** (**Voice**, **SMS**, **Video**, **Fax**). **Voice** is ticked when you first open the page, so SMS-only numbers are hidden until you untick it. 4. Choose how many **Results Per Page** and click **Search DIDs**. **Clear Filters** resets the form. ![The DIDs Marketplace with search filters and available numbers, their rates, fees and capabilities](https://help.telecomsxchange.com/assets/screenshots/buyer-dids-market.jpg) You'll see each number's **Voice Rate**, **SMS Rate**, **Recurring Fee** (per month, quarter or year), **Setup Fee**, **Capacity**, type and capabilities. A **KYC** badge means you must provide documents before the number works. Numbers of type **Special** appear as **Grey**. When a seller has scheduled a price increase, the number is listed a second time as " YYYY-MM-DD" with the prices that apply from that date. Anonymous sellers show **Anonymous**; clicking it opens a message to them. With **Local Requirements** set to **Any** and **Seller** empty or **Nexmo**, the search also includes numbers from the Nexmo inventory, listed under seller **Nexmo**. They always carry the **KYC** badge. Click **Download N DIDs** to save the results as a CSV file. If nothing matches, the page offers to [place a back order](#what-if-the-number-i-need-isnt-listed). ## How do I buy a number? 1. Click **Buy** on the number. 2. On **Confirm Purchase**, check the **DID Details**: **Setup Fee**, **Recurring Fee**, **Voice Rate**, **Increment** (billing interval), **SMS Rate** and **Seller**. 3. Under **Routing Configuration**, enter where TelecomsXchange delivers traffic. The fields depend on the number's capabilities, and each one shown is required: - for a voice, video or fax number, **SIP Endpoint (Primary)**, in the format `sip:user@domain:port`, and optionally **SIP Endpoint (Secondary)**; - for an SMS number, **SMPP Endpoint**, in the format `smpp:login:password:number@host:port`; - a number with both capabilities needs both. 4. Choose the **Billing Account**. The list shows each account's balance. 5. Click **Complete Purchase**. The setup fee and the first recurring fee are charged at once, and the number's **DID Settings** page opens. You also get a "TCXC DID purchase Notification" email, and so does the seller. If the billing account uses another account's balance, the fees come from that balance. The balance plus credit limit must cover both fees. In **Payment History** the charges appear as "Setup Fee for DID " and " charge Fee for DID ". !!! tip The purchase email gives the TelecomsXchange server IP. Whitelist it in your firewall so inbound calls to the number aren't blocked. ## What if the number needs documents (KYC)? Numbers with the **KYC** badge show a **VERIFICATION ALERT** on the purchase page. The number is billed immediately but activated only after the seller approves your documents. The setup fee and recurring fee are non-refundable. The seller can ask for: - Address Proof - LOA (Letter of Intent) - Passport/ID Card - Company Articles of Incorporation - anything listed under **Other Notes** After you buy, send the documents to the seller, for example through [Messages](https://help.telecomsxchange.com/buyers/preferences-notifications-messages/), or click **Get Verified (KYC)** on **Purchased DIDs** to open the online verification form. When the seller marks them verified you get a documents verified email, and **Documents Verified** is ticked in the number's **DID Settings**. ## How do I change where a number is routed? 1. Go to **DIDs → Purchased DIDs** (the page is titled **My DIDs**). Filter by **Number Prefix**, **Country** or **Description** if you have many numbers. 2. Click **⋮** on the number's row and choose **Edit DID**. 3. In **DID Settings**, change **Point to SIP (Primary)**, **Point to SIP (Failover)** or **Point to SMPP**. Tick **SIP DNS SRV** to use DNS SRV for the SIP host; then leave the port out. The **DID Information** block above is read-only. 4. Click **Save Settings**. **Return to DIDs** goes back without saving. You'll see "DID entry has been updated." **Purchased DIDs** lists each number with its **Fees**, **Next Bill** date, **Billing Account**, **Seller** and **Routed To**. Click the info icons under **Fees** and **Routed To** to see the rates and the endpoints. A **Price change** badge on a number shows a coming price increase and its date; hover over it to see the new prices. ## How do I update or release many numbers at once? 1. In **DIDs → Purchased DIDs**, click **Download All DIDs** (or **Download N DIDs** for the filtered list). You get a CSV file of your numbers. 2. In the first column, **Upload Action**, enter: - `EDIT` to change the number's routing. Then fill in **Pointed To SIP**, **Pointed To SIP (secondary)** and **Pointed To SMPP** in the same formats as on the purchase page. The columns the number needs (SIP for voice, SMPP for SMS) must be filled. - `CANCEL` to release the number. - Leave it empty on numbers you don't want to touch. 3. Choose the file under **Upload DID File** and click **Search DIDs**. You'll see "DIDs have been uploaded." If any row has an error, nothing is changed and you get the file back as `numbers_upload_errors.csv`, with the error at the end of each row. ## How do renewals and cancellations work? - **Reminder:** about 7 days before renewal you get a "Phone Numbers Renewal Reminder!" email from rates@telecomsxchange.com, with a table of the numbers, their renewal dates, cost and account balance, the total cost and a **Recharge Balance** button. Each number is included once per billing cycle. - **Low funds:** when a renewal is due within 14 days and the account's balance plus credit limit won't cover its numbers' recurring fees, you get a "TCXC DID Auto Unsubscribe Notification!" warning with a **Top up balance** button. - **Renewal:** on the **Next Bill** date the recurring fee is charged (" charge for DID " in **Payment History**) and the number is renewed for another month, quarter or year. - **Price changes:** when a seller changes a number's price you get a "TCXC DID Rate Notification! DID: " email with the new recurring fee, call and SMS prices, billing interval, capabilities and the date they take effect. - **Cancel:** in **DID Settings**, click **Release** under **Cancel Number**. There is no confirmation step. You'll see "Unsubscribed successfully". The number is released at once, its routing and document verification are cleared, and the seller gets a "Number Cancelation Alert" email. Fees already paid are not refunded. !!! warning If the billing account's balance plus credit limit can't pay a renewal, the number is unsubscribed automatically and goes back to the seller, and you get a "TCXC DID Auto Unsubscribe Notification! DID: " email. Keep the account topped up to keep your numbers. **DIDs → Subscription Logs** shows your purchases and cancellations as **DID Number**, **Seller**, **Action** and **Timestamp**. The action is `subscribe` for a purchase, `manual_unsubscribe` for a release and `balance_unsubscribe` for an automatic unsubscribe; renewals are not logged. Filter by **DID Number** and **Seller** and click **Search Logs**. ## What if the number I need isn't listed? 1. Go to **DIDs → My Back Orders** and click **Place New Back Order**. 2. Fill in **Prefix** and **Quantity** (digits only), **Country** (as spelled in the market) and **Network**, and tick the **Features Required**. 3. Describe your need in **Explain DID Use Case**. 4. Click **Submit Back Order**. You'll see **DID Back Order Confirmed**: "Thank you, the order has been placed. We will contact you shortly." The TelecomsXchange team is notified and sources the numbers from sellers; you aren't charged for back orders. Your requests are listed in **My Back Orders** with their **Date**, **Prefix**, **Country**, **Network**, **Capabilities**, **Quantity**, **Notes** and **Status** (**Pending** or **Completed**). Orders are typically processed within 24 to 48 hours. ## What if something goes wrong? | You see | What to do | |---|---| | You have to specify some search pattern, prefix or country or description | Enter a prefix, country or description before you search. | | You have to specify longer prefix for this country code | For numbers starting with `1`, enter at least 3 digits. | | No DIDs Found | No listed number matches. Untick **Voice** if you want SMS-only numbers, widen the search, or place a back order. | | Selected account does not have enough funds: this DID needs $X up front ($Y setup + $Z first Monthly fee) | [Add funds](https://help.telecomsxchange.com/buyers/add-funds/) or choose another billing account. | | This DID can not be purchased, it has been already sold | Another buyer bought it. Pick another number. | | Can not purchase DID on this account | The billing account isn't one of yours. Choose one of your own accounts. | | DID subscribe error: … | A Nexmo number could not be reserved. Try again later or pick another number. | | Point to SIP should be in format sip:12345abc@sip.domain.com:5060 | Enter the SIP endpoint as `sip:user@host:port`. | | Point to SIP (secondary) should be in format sip:12345abc@sip.domain.com:5060 | Fix the secondary endpoint or leave it empty. | | Point to SMPP should be in format smpp:login:pass:12345abc@smpp.domain.com:2776 | Enter the SMPP endpoint as `smpp:login:password:number@host:port`. | | Invalid format of DNS SRV for Point to SIP | In **DID Settings** with **SIP DNS SRV** ticked, remove the port from the endpoint. | | Supported 'Upload Actions' are none, 'CANCEL' and 'EDIT'. | Use only `EDIT`, `CANCEL` or an empty **Upload Action** in the CSV. | | DID number should contain only digits. / DID number should be of length 4..15 digits. | Fix the **Number** column in the CSV; remove `+` and spaces. | | This number has not been purchased . | The CSV row names a number that isn't on one of your accounts. Remove the row. | | There was an error | The number could not be released. Refresh **Purchased DIDs** and try again. | | Empty value for Country/Prefix/Quantity not allowed | Fill in all three fields of the back order. | | Only numeric value supported for Prefix/Quantity | Enter the prefix and quantity as digits. | | Country '…' not found | Type the country name as it appears in the market. | | Empty value for 'Explain DID use case' not allowed | Describe your use case in the back order. | ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What am I charged when I buy a number?** A: The setup fee plus the first recurring fee (monthly, quarterly or annual), from the billing account you choose. They appear in Payment History as 'Setup Fee for DID ' and ' charge Fee for DID '. Calls and SMS on the number are billed at the voice and SMS rates shown. **Q: What does the KYC badge mean?** A: The number needs document verification, such as address proof, ID or company documents. It is billed immediately but works only after the seller approves your documents, and the fees are non-refundable. **Q: How do renewals work?** A: About 7 days before renewal you get a Phone Numbers Renewal Reminder. The recurring fee is charged automatically on the Next Bill date; if your balance plus credit limit can't cover it, the number is unsubscribed. **Q: How do I cancel a number?** A: Open the number's DID Settings and click Release under Cancel Number. The number is released at once and the seller is notified. Fees already paid are not refunded. **Q: Can I change the routing of many numbers at once?** A: Yes. Download your numbers from Purchased DIDs, put EDIT in the Upload Action column, change the Pointed To SIP, SIP (secondary) or SMPP columns and upload the file. **Q: The number I need isn't listed. What can I do?** A: Go to DIDs → My Back Orders, click Place New Back Order and describe the prefix, country, network and quantity you need. Back orders are free.