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David Harvey
David Harvey

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Automate iMessage at Scale with the Blooio API: Direct Integration Guide

#automation #api #tutorial #nocode

Why iMessage Automation Is a Game Changer

If you want sky-high open rates, instant trust, and rich customer communication, iMessage is unbeatable:

  • 2x higher open rates than SMS
  • Blue bubble creates trust with US customers
  • 90% of iPhone users prefer iMessage
  • Images, videos, reactions—rich media support

Yet, Apple offers no official API. Most automation guides rely on hacks or third-party services. Blooio solves this the right way: using actual iPhones as hardware bridges and exposes a true HTTP REST API for direct automation.

How Blooio Works: Core Architecture 

[Your App / Workflow]
      ↓  (HTTP API)
[Blooio API]
      ↓
[Physical Apple Devices]
      ↓
[iMessage Network]
      ↓
[Customer's iPhone]
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No extra scripts, browser emulators, or unreliable hacks. Just send an API request; Blooio delivers your iMessage.

Getting Started: Blooio API

Prerequisites

  • Blooio account (free trial, no CC required)
  • API key from your dashboard

The API

Sending a Message

Endpoint:

POST https://backend.blooio.com/v1/api/messages

Headers:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json
Idempotency-Key: unique-id-123 (optional - prevents duplicates)
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Request Body Example:

{
    "to": "+15551234567",                  // recipient in E.164 format
    "text": "Hello from Blooio API!",      // your message
    "attachments": ["https://example.com/img.png"], // array of public media URLs
    "metadata": { "ticketid": "TCK-123" }  // optional tracking info
}
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What Happens:

  • Your message is queued for delivery.
  • Attachments (image, video) are sent if URLs provided.
  • All metadata tracked for your own analytics.

Response

For duplicates:

{
   "messageid": "Qm8FhbH3P7R",
   "status": "queued"
}
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If new, status code is 202 Accepted and same response payload.

Key Endpoints

Endpoint Purpose
/v1/api/messages Send new iMessage/SMS
/v1/api/messages?limit=100&sort=desc List messages (filterable by contact/status/date)
/v1/api/messages/{messageId} Get message details/status
/v1/api/messages/{messageId}/status Get delivery status only
/v1/api/messages/{messageId} (DELETE) Cancel a queued message
/v1/api/contacts/{contact}/capabilities Check contact's iMessage/SMS support
/v1/api/webhooks Manage webhook URLs for delivery events (sent/failed/delivered)

Webhooks for Incoming & Status

  • Register a webhook (e.g., on your backend): /v1/api/webhooks
  • Get real-time POSTs for events like:
    • message.received (inbound from customer)
    • message.sent, delivered, failed, read

Payloads include all message content, contact, status, timestamps.

Example: Send a Message from Python 

import requests

resp = requests.post(
    'https://backend.blooio.com/v1/api/messages',
    headers={
        'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    json={
        'to': '+15551234567',
        'text': 'Welcome to Blooio direct API!'
    }
)
print(resp.json())
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Real-World Use Cases

  • Support Chatbot: Receive iMessages via webhook, send to AI, reply back instantly.
  • Appointment Reminders: Trigger via Google Calendar API, send iMessage with details using Blooio API.
  • Order Updates: Connect your backend (Shopify, Woo) and notify with delivery info.

All flows integrate natively via HTTP, but you can still use Make.com, Zapier, or n8n for visual orchestration if preferred—just use their HTTP module to talk to Blooio API.

Error Handling & Validation

  • Use the response codes and webhook status.
  • Validate recipient formats: use E.164 (+1XXXXXXXXXX).
  • Implement idempotency with Idempotency-Key.
  • Rate limits: ~100+ messages/min via Apple hardware.
  • You can always fallback to SMS using Blooio, or another SMS provider if recipient is not an iPhone user.

Security:

Store API keys securely, never hardcode!

Advanced Features

  • Check device/account status: /v1/api/me for plan/devices/usage
  • Contact capability lookup: /v1/api/contacts/{contact}/capabilities Find if target supports iMessage, SMS, RCS, etc.
  • Batch sending: Bulk endpoints are available (stubbed for now).

Integration with No-Code Tools

While this guide focuses on direct API usage, you can always plug Blooio into:

  • Make.com: Use HTTP module to POST directly to Blooio.
  • n8n: Free and open source. Use HTTP Node.
  • Zapier: Connect via webhook.

Official Make app.

Official Zapier app.

This lets you use drag-and-drop automation but leverages Blooio's direct messaging API for reliability and scale.

Useful References

Have questions or want to see more examples? Drop them in the comments!

This guide spotlights direct Blooio API capabilities, minimizing reliance on third-party automation suites. Plug in your workflow, code, or favorite automation builder—Blooio handles iMessage delivery with real devices and simple REST endpoints.

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