# Developer Center Introduction

## Welcome to the Mobile Text Alerts Developer Center

With the Mobile Text Alerts API you can take full control over your account with message sending, phone number segmentation and more. The API allows you to perform CRUD (create, read, update, delete) operations without incurring any additional costs, as API access comes bundled with every subscription. 

## First Steps

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Sign Up for your Free SMS Trial Account

<a href="https://mobile-text-alerts.com/signup-smsapi" class="button primary">Create your free account</a>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Get an API Key

Mobile Text Alerts API endpoints use bearer token authentication. Requests must include an `Authorization` header with a value of `Bearer {myAPIKey}` . API Keys are unique access tokens assigned to a Mobile Text Alerts account, learn more at [Get an API Key](https://developers.mobile-text-alerts.com/getting-started/get-an-api-key).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Explore actions

Once authenticated, you can use the Mobile Text Alerts API to send messages, retrieve subscriber information, advanced features like configuring smart responses and more. All endpoints in the API adhere to REST conventions and utilize standard HTTP methods.&#x20;
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>New to using a REST API or just getting started with the MTA API? Start here: </td><td><a href="getting-started/send-a-message">send-a-message</a></td><td><a href="getting-started/add-a-subscriber">add-a-subscriber</a></td><td><a href="getting-started/setting-up-webhooks">setting-up-webhooks</a></td><td><a href="api-basics">api-basics</a></td><td><a href="https://879775583-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FM0P3gHFFZE4c6PMaPvHm%2Fuploads%2FY6nDZfOEVoYDKC4zjIYb%2Fgraphic_getting-started.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=89f132a6-da2e-4603-b552-6b80bfbf3ffb">graphic_getting-started.svg</a></td></tr><tr><td>Step through Tutorials to learn more about common actions with the API</td><td><a href="tutorials/message-sending/send-an-sms-message">send-an-sms-message</a></td><td><a href="tutorials/message-sending/send-an-mms-message">send-an-mms-message</a></td><td><a href="tutorials/message-sending/message-templates">message-templates</a></td><td><a href="tutorials/manage-subscribers">manage-subscribers</a></td><td><a href="https://879775583-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FM0P3gHFFZE4c6PMaPvHm%2Fuploads%2F2bqDIdSkmYdMC8dbQeKn%2Fgraphic_api-basics.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=92b3b2b7-a3e9-477d-8180-175f5362e2f6">graphic_api-basics.svg</a></td></tr><tr><td>Have a question about how to use Mobile Text Alerts API?</td><td><a href="faq">faq</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="https://879775583-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FM0P3gHFFZE4c6PMaPvHm%2Fuploads%2FAMoHzhJaBLzobGIP9M94%2Fgraphic_faq.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=49e019fc-2971-4f39-be0f-b6ede609f991">graphic_faq.svg</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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```
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