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Samoa OTP API: Testing +685 Sign-Ups Across the Pacific
OTP Route lets you receive Samoa (+685) verification codes by ordering a single-use number from the OTP Gateway, then reading the SMS in the dashboard or pulling it through the API and webhooks, from $0.20 per code. You have 20 minutes for the message to arrive, and you are refunded in full if it does not.
Samoa at a glance for product and QA teams
Samoa is an independent Pacific nation with Samoan and English as official languages. A large Samoan community lives in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, so remittance, messaging and travel apps often need to work for users who move between those countries and home.
Two quirks are worth knowing. First, Samoa (+685) is a different country from American Samoa, which sits inside the North American numbering plan under +1 684; mixing them up in a country picker sends codes to the wrong place. Second, Samoa moved to the west side of the International Date Line in 2011 and keeps a clock far ahead of UTC, which makes it a handy case for testing date boundaries in expiry logic.
For a product team, Samoa is rarely a launch market on its own. It tends to appear as part of a Pacific rollout, as a requirement from a diaspora-focused app, or because a partner organisation in Apia needs a business account confirmed. In each case the job is the same: prove that a +685 user can finish your sign-up flow.
How should a +685 number be handled in code?
Samoan national numbers are short compared with most markets, so validators tuned for nine- or ten-digit numbers can reject a real one. Save numbers as +685 plus the national digits with no separators, and remove any zero a user adds by habit. Because webhook timestamps are Unix seconds, compare them in UTC rather than local time; that avoids surprises when your server and a Samoa-based tester sit on different calendar days.
If your product lets users switch between a New Zealand and a Samoan number on the same profile, add a test that changes the country code and confirms the old verification state is cleared, so a code sent to one number is never accepted for the other.
Which services are available on Samoa routes?
The Samoa catalogue currently lists more than 600 services. Among the commonly requested ones are WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Google (Gmail & YouTube), Viber, Signal, TikTok, Microsoft & Outlook, Amazon and Discord. Coverage is thinner here than in large markets and changes through the day, so check GET /api/v1/services and GET /api/v1/countries before each run. If a service is missing, a neighbouring route such as Fiji or Tonga may suit your test.
The lighter catalogue is a good reason to make your test harness tolerant: if the preferred service is absent at run time, mark the case as skipped rather than failed, and record it so someone can retry later.
Requesting a Samoa code through the API
With a Bearer key (or_live_…) against https://otproute.com/api/v1, look up the price via GET /api/v1/prices?country=ws&service=<id>, then post {"service": "<id>", "country": "ws"} to POST /api/v1/activations. Track the activation id by polling GET /api/v1/activations/{id} or by listening for activation.sms_received. Verify the X-OTPRoute-Signature HMAC on each webhook, refuse stale timestamps, and make the handler safe to run twice for the same activation. The integration guide shows the full shape.
Rate limits are generous for a market of this size: each account gets up to 10 keys, 5 webhook endpoints and 300 requests per minute. If you poll, a few seconds between checks is plenty.
Doing it by hand in the dashboard
- Sign in and open the OTP Gateway.
- Choose the service, then Samoa.
- Check the live price and confirm.
- Paste the +685 number into the app under test and request the code.
- Read the code on screen, or cancel if you no longer need it.
When a +685 code is slow or missing
Keep the activation open for the full 20 minutes before giving up. Some apps refuse virtual numbers entirely, which is exactly why unanswered orders are refunded. If a route stays silent, try later or choose another service route; firing new orders in a tight loop rarely helps and burns your rate limit.
Log the activation id with each attempt so you can see whether silence came from one particular app or from the route as a whole.
Long-term numbers and paying for usage
OTP Route does not sell a self-serve long-term Samoan number. Dedicated Numbers start from $1.95/month and are limited to the United States and Canada; for a Samoa line, ask [email protected], with no promise it can be arranged. The prepaid USD wallet takes cards and USDT/USDC, sends a PDF invoice per top-up, and has no monthly fee. Request sandbox mode on a development account to rehearse the ws flow without spending funds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Samoa the same as American Samoa for phone numbers?
No. Samoa uses +685, while American Samoa uses +1 684. Pick the right one in your country selector and in the API.
What is the API country id for Samoa?
Use ws in the prices query and in the activation request.
How much does a Samoa verification code cost?
From $0.20 per code; the exact price depends on the service and is shown before you order.
Can I test a Samoan user's sign-up from New Zealand or Australia?
Yes. The +685 number receives the SMS and OTP Route shows it to you wherever your team works.
Do I pay when no message arrives?
No. Expired or cancelled activations are refunded to the wallet automatically.
What languages do Samoa codes come in?
Usually English, which is official alongside Samoan. Parse the digits, not the surrounding text.
Can I use these numbers to open lots of accounts?
No. Follow each service's terms; the Acceptable Use Policy limits OTP Route to testing and operating your own legitimate accounts and products.
Service names are trademarks of their respective owners. OTP Route is not affiliated with them. Use numbers lawfully, follow each service's terms and our Acceptable Use Policy.