SHORT CODES
Taking cues from Asia and Europe, U.S. wireless carriers created the Common Short Code Administration as an entity to regulate access to the SMS channel and protect our mobile devices from SPAM and unsolicited marketing.

A ‘Short Code’ is a 5 or 6 digit abbreviated phone number that appears on the mobile device as the "From:". Short Codes identify content providers and each Short Code has to be independently provisioned by each wireless carrier to gain access to that network. Carriers conduct regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance.

Short Codes ensure that consumers remain in control of their experiences by providing a trusted method to ‘Opt-In’ and ‘Opt-Out’ of mobile programs - a requirement for both premium and standard rated programs.

SHARED SHORT CODES
A Short Code can be shared by multiple content providers if the program is managed by an approved application provider with a system capable of differentiating between program traffic through the use of unique Keywords.

However, due to the growing number of programs being run over shared Short Codes, wireless carriers continue to tighten requirements for the application providers who offer these services. As such SUMOTEXT thoroughly reviews all new programs and regularly reports new programs and their associated keywords to wireless carriers.

 

ROAD RULES
  Consumers must ‘Opt-in’ to a Short Code program from their mobile device before they can be sent anything. Even an initial message that asks for permission is considered SPAM.

  Consumers must ‘double' opt-in (confirm their intent to subscribe by replying YES) to any program that charges fees. T-Mobile also requires a double opt-in for any program that is recurring - even standard rated marketing and alerts.

  All subscription services with recurring messages (even standard rated programs) must provide the "Frequency" during the Opt-In confirmation. For example: "Max 8x/mth".

  All subscription services with recurring messages (even standard rated programs) must contain “Reply STOP to End” in each and every message.

  All programs must support the universal commands STOP, QUIT, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, STOP ALL, and HELP.

NOTE: There are many other requirements and most are different for each carrier. For example, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile have very different requirements for the universaly required verbage that discloses 1) How the user gets HELP, 2) How to inform estimated frequency, and 3) How to inform the user of standard rated charges.

To experience a carrier-compliant opt-in process:

Try a DEMO
Text a Keyword to Short Code 79704:

  Text Staffing
  Text HR
  Text Remax959
  Text Retail
  Text Contest
  Text Vote