I’ve always been concerned about the security of my data, especially my phone number, which is linked to my bank accounts, social media accounts, and other important services. I rely on OTPs (One-Time Passwords) and SMS messages to access these accounts, so losing access to my phone number could become a serious problem.
I have a backup phone, but carrying two phones everywhere isn’t practical when I already have an iPhone that I use as my main device.
That’s why I decided to create SMSBridge, an Android app that forwards important incoming SMS messages, including OTPs, to a Telegram bot that I created. This allows me to receive important messages wherever I go without having to carry my backup Android phone with me.
What If My Phone Gets Stolen?
One of my biggest concerns is what would happen if my phone got stolen. Recovering my phone number from my mobile carrier can be a hassle. Depending on the carrier's requirements, I might need an affidavit of loss, a police report, or a replacement SIM card. I might not even have the original SIM card holder anymore (Which is sometimes required when you’re getting a replacement).
Having SMSBridge gives me another way to access important messages through Telegram, even when my backup phone stays at home. It doesn't eliminate the need to recover a lost phone number, but it gives me a more convenient way to receive messages while I still have access to my backup device and its internet connection.
Why Not Just Use Google Messages for Web?
Before creating SMSBridge, I tried Google Messages for Web, but it wasn't the experience I wanted. I had to open a webpage whenever I needed to check an OTP, which made the process less convenient.
My main device is an iPhone, while my backup device runs Android. One thing I appreciate about iOS is that when an OTP arrives through a supported messaging channel, the system can recognise the code and offer it directly above the keyboard during verification screen. I can simply tap the suggested code instead of switching between apps and manually copying it.
With SMSBridge, I wanted to make that experience more convenient. My Android phone receives the SMS and forwards it to Telegram, where I can access the message on my iPhone. When the OTP is recognised by iOS, I can use the keyboard suggestion to fill it in quickly.
Instead of opening a separate webpage or constantly switching between devices, I can simply wait for the message to arrive.
More Control Over SMS Forwarding
Another feature I wanted was the ability to turn SMS forwarding on or off whenever I need to. Not every message needs to be forwarded, and I want control over when my backup device sends messages to Telegram.
Since OTPs and banking messages contain sensitive information, security is also an important consideration. SMSBridge should make it easy to disable forwarding when it's not needed and ensure that access to the Telegram bot is properly secured.
Forwarding messages to Telegram introduces another point where sensitive information could be exposed, so SMSBridge should be treated as a convenience and backup solution rather than a guarantee of security.
A Practical Solution for My Everyday Needs
SMSBridge started as a personal solution to a problem I wanted to solve. I wanted to keep my Android phone as a backup while continuing to use my iPhone as my primary device, without sacrificing the convenience of receiving important SMS messages.
By forwarding messages to Telegram, I can access important information without carrying two phones everywhere.
Sometimes, a useful app doesn't need to solve a complicated problem. It just needs to make an everyday inconvenience easier to manage. That's exactly what I wanted SMSBridge to do.
One technical detail worth keeping in mind: iOS may offer an OTP keyboard suggestion only when it recognises a supported format and the code is available to the system. A code received through Telegram is not guaranteed to trigger that suggestion automatically, so it's best to describe this as the intended convenience rather than a guaranteed feature.