Cowrie Integrated Systems Airtime API

High performance airtime/data topup API and network agnostic logical PINs for Nigerian networks Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile and MTN

Cowrie Integrated Systems Limited is an NCC licensed Value Added Service provider of telecommunication products and services. Our Airtime REST API enables developers and service providers to dispense airtime/data plans/logical PINs from their applications. Send a request to [email protected] to signup for an account.

This repository documents the Airtime REST API and contains bindings for the following languages/platforms

• C#
• Java
• Javascript
• PHP
• Python

To start using the API immeadiately, download the code samples for your chosen platform. The remainder of this document provides the specification for the API and describes how it is implemented.

API Structure

The airtime API is based on a HTTP/REST architecture. API clients issue HTTP GET requests with parameters specified in the query string. API responses use standard HTTP response codes with messages encoded in JSON format.

API Security

Security for the API is enforced through a combination of SSL and HMAC256 signatures. API requests are only accepted over HTTPS.

Request Authentication

API client requests are authenticated and authorized using a supplied ClientId and ClientKey. For every request, the API client must include the ClientId and sign the request using the ClientKey.

Computing the Signature

The algorithm used to compute the signature is described as follows

1. Generate a nonce (it can be any unique string)
2. Concatenate the nonce and the query string including the question mark "?" {nonce}?net={net}&msisdn={msisdn}&amount={amount}&channel={channel}&xref={xref}
3. Convert the base64 encoded ClientKey to bytes
4. Instantiate a SHA256 object from the ClientKey bytes
5. Compute the SHA256 hash of the concatenated nonce and query string. The result yields the signature. Convert the signature to base64 format
6. Apply the ClientId, Signature and Nonce as HTTP headers

API Methods

Balance Request

Request URL
https://api.cowriesys.com/airtime/Balance

Request Headers 
ClientId: [email protected] 
Signature: TAP2kgjhhodYUcawFIwsn2GSxjoyVvWWQDZMhHuMFFM= 
Nonce: 20151110202513869

Balance Response

A successful request will return the following JSON encoded response

HTTP 200 OK

{
    balance: 100000,
    discount: 4
}

Credit Request

Request URL
https://api.cowriesys.com/airtime/Credit?net=AIR&msisdn=2348124661601&amount=100&xref=7734c7da7687442

Request Headers 
ClientId: [email protected] 
Signature: TAP2kgjhhodYUcawFIwsn2GSxjoyVvWWQDZMhHuMFFM= 
Nonce: 20151110202513869

Credit Response

A successful request will return the following JSON encoded response

HTTP 200 OK

{
    id: "1253CBF19F431784E610",
    xref: "7734c7da7687442",
    message: "OK"
}

Data Request

Request URL
https://api.cowriesys.com/data/Credit?net=AIR&msisdn=2348124661601&amount=100&xref=7734c7da7687442

Request Headers 
ClientId: [email protected] 
Signature: TAP2kgjhhodYUcawFIwsn2GSxjoyVvWWQDZMhHuMFFM= 
Nonce: 20151110202513869

Data Response

A successful request will return the following JSON encoded response

HTTP 200 OK

{
    id: "1253CBF19F431784E610",
    net: "AIR",
    msisdn: "2348124661601",  
    amount: 100,  
    xref: "7734c7da7687442"
}

Network Codes

The net request parameter for the Credit and Data API methods should be set according to this table

Data Plans

The following data plans are available

Airtel

Glo

MTN

9Mobile

Check Request

Request URL
https://api.cowriesys.com/airtime/Check?reference=7734c7da7687442

Request Headers 
ClientId: [email protected] 
Signature: TAP2kgjhhodYUcawFIwsn2GSxjoyVvWWQDZMhHuMFFM= 
Nonce: 20151110202513869

Check Response

A successful request will return the following JSON encoded response

HTTP 200 OK

{
    id: "1253CBF19F431784E610",
    net: "AIR",
    msisdn: "2348124661601",  
    amount: 100,  
    xref: "7734c7da7687442",
    status: "OK"
}

AllocateSingle Pin Request

Request URL
https://api.cowriesys.com/pin/AllocateSingle?unit=110&type=AIRTIME&message=HappyNewYear&xref=20180101215933289

AllocateSingle Pin Response

{
    "serial": "97054",
    "pin": "101436786399",
    "unit": 110,
    "fee": 0,
    "type": "AIRTIME",
    "xref": "20180101215933289",
    "message": "HappyNewYear"
}

Response Error Codes

A failed request will result in one of the following HTTP response error codes.