What Textlocal does

Textlocal (legal entity TxtLocal Limited, company no. 5578161) is a UK-based cloud SMS and MMS messaging platform founded in 2005 and headquartered at the Cisco Systems UK offices in London/Feltham, with primary technical operations in Malvern. The platform enables businesses to send and receive bulk SMS/MMS, route email-to-SMS, manage contact groups and broadcast campaigns, and integrate programmatically via REST API, FTP/sFTP, and a web-based Messenger interface. Core technology centres on direct connections into UK mobile network SMSCs and priority routes through tier 1 aggregators, hosted on AWS London infrastructure with high-availability clustered servers across two UK sites, real-time database mirroring, and 30-minute snapshot retention.

The company monetises primarily through a pre-paid credits model (1 credit = 1 SMS up to 160 characters, MMS and Unicode consuming additional credits), with business customers on invoiced credit arrangements (30-day terms) and an Auto Top-Up add-on to prevent service interruption. Distribution combines a self-serve website sign-up with dedicated Account Managers for enterprise accounts. It holds ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and ISO 9001 certifications, is GDPR-compliant as a data processor, and is DMA-accredited. Founder and Managing Director Darren Daws led the business prior to its acquisition via IMImobile by Cisco Systems.

Textlocal has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems since the IMImobile acquisition. The standalone Textlocal Messenger platform was decommissioned on 30 November 2025 (India on 31 October 2025), with customers migrated to Webex Interact, marking the consolidation of the SMS capability into Cisco's broader Webex collaboration and customer-engagement portfolio.

Name

Textlocal

Legal name

TxtLocal Limited

Website

https://textlocal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Textlocal is a UK-based cloud SMS/MMS messaging platform operating since 2005, serving UK and Irish business customers from SMB to enterprise via web self-serve, REST API, and account-managed sales, with direct mobile network SMSC connectivity and AWS-hosted infrastructure. Now a Cisco subsidiary, the Messenger platform was decommissioned on 30 November 2025 with customers migrated to Webex Interact.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud Business Messaging Software

NAICS

Telecommunications (517), Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

SMS/RCS Messaging Platforms (BPAMACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

SMS/MMS & Messaging Marketing Services (Text, RCS, WhatsApp/OTT) (MPAAAIAB), Enterprise/Team Messaging (BPAMACAB)

Keywords

• Cloud SMS platform
• Bulk messaging services
• Mobile marketing software
• Business messaging API
• SMS gateway services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Pre-paid Credits: Credits-based system where customers purchase message credits in advance using credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Each SMS uses one credit (160 characters or less). Unicode messages use 2 credits per 70 characters. Credits purchased after December 1, 2024 expire 6 months from purchase date.
2. Invoiced Credits (Credit Arrangements): Business customers may be offered credits on account with invoicing. Payment terms include 30 days from invoice date with interest charged at 4% per annum above Barclays base rate on delayed payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Textlocal operates a cloud-based SMS and MMS messaging platform that enables businesses to send bulk and individual text messages via a web-based Messenger interface and a developer API. Services include email-to-SMS gateway, two-way messaging, MMS, Shortlink URL tracking, Auto Top-Up credits, FTP/sFTP contact import, and SMS-based Payment Pages, supported by direct connections to mobile network SMS Centres and tier-1 aggregators.

Product overview

Textlocal is a cloud-based SMS and MMS messaging platform, now part of Cisco's Webex portfolio. The product suite consists of the Webex Interact platform (the current messaging solution) and the legacy Textlocal Messenger (now decommissioned), both offering SMS/MMS sending, API access, and email-to-SMS gateway services. Add-on modules include Shortlink Service for URL tracking, Simple Reply Service for two-way messaging, Auto Top-Up for automated credit management, FTP/sFTP for bulk contact imports, and Payment Pages for SMS-based transactions. The Textlocal API enables developers to programmatically integrate messaging capabilities into third-party applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Webex Interact Webex Interact is the successor cloud messaging platform to Textlocal Messenger, providing SMS and MMS messaging, broadcast campaigns, two-way messaging, and API access within the Cisco/Webex portfolio. Existing Textlocal Messenger customers are migrated to this product as the legacy platform is decommissioned.
• Textlocal Messenger Textlocal Messenger was the company's primary web-based mobile messaging platform, enabling users to send and receive SMS and MMS messages, manage contact groups, conduct direct marketing campaigns, distribute surveys, and distribute reward vouchers for businesses. The platform was decommissioned on 30 November 2025.
• Textlocal API The Textlocal API is the developer-facing programmatic interface for sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages, retrieving delivery reports, and managing contacts, enabling integration into third-party applications and enterprise systems. The API is being transitioned to Webex Interact alongside the Messenger decommissioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average SMS delivery time under 3 seconds
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS hosts Textlocal's servers in London (UK) data centres, providing enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with 100% network uptime SLA guarantee. AWS infrastructure enables high availability clustered server environment with secure data storage.
• UK Mobile Network OperatorscoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect connections into mobile network SMS Centres (SMSCs) for high capacity, reliable, and fast SMS connectivity. Includes direct connections to various operators and priority connections into tier 1 aggregators for premium UK-routed SMS delivery.
• Webex (Cisco)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTextlocal Messenger platform is being migrated to Webex Interact. Textlocal operates as part of Cisco's Webex portfolio, providing SMS/MMS messaging capabilities within the broader Cisco collaboration ecosystem. Parent company relationship with Cisco Systems, Inc.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Twilio: Twilio is the largest global CPaaS provider, offering SMS, MMS, voice, and a broad API surface. It directly competes with Textlocal on programmatic and bulk SMS for business customers, with materially deeper geographic coverage and developer ecosystem.
• MessageBird (Bird): Bird (formerly MessageBird) is a European-headquartered CPaaS competitor offering SMS, WhatsApp, voice, and email APIs. It is a close comparable to Textlocal in serving European business customers with multi-channel messaging.
• Sinch: Sinch is a global CPaaS provider with strong SMS, RCS, and messaging API offerings, including direct operator relationships. It competes directly with Textlocal on bulk and transactional SMS for enterprise customers.
• Infobip: Infobip is a global CPaaS platform with direct mobile operator connections worldwide, offering SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and omnichannel messaging APIs. Its direct-SMSC approach and enterprise focus mirror Textlocal's technical positioning.
• Plivo: Plivo is a cloud communications platform offering SMS, voice, and number masking APIs for developers and businesses. It directly competes with Textlocal on programmatic SMS and pricing for mid-market and enterprise customers.
• CM.com: CM.com is a European CPaaS provider offering SMS, WhatsApp Business, voice, and payment APIs. It directly competes with Textlocal for European SMB and enterprise messaging customers.
• ClickSend: ClickSend offers a multi-channel business messaging platform covering SMS, MMS, email, and postal mail with an API and self-serve dashboard. It targets the same SMB and mid-market bulk messaging use cases as Textlocal.
• Telnyx: Telnyx operates a private global IP network with SMS, voice, and wireless APIs targeting developers and enterprises. Its direct carrier-grade network approach mirrors Textlocal's SMSC-direct positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Vonage (Ericsson): Vonage, now part of Ericsson, offers a broad communications platform including SMS, voice, and video APIs alongside UCaaS. It overlaps with Textlocal on SMS API services as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Amazon SNS: Amazon Simple Notification Service is a hyperscaler messaging offering for SMS, push, and pub/sub. As an infrastructure-level incumbent, it competes with Textlocal on programmatic SMS delivery inside AWS-hosted environments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/textlocal
• Facebookfacebook.com/txtlocal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/textlocal-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Textlocal