How do short codes work

Partners help take your code from a series of numbers to a whole campaign. They help you construct your message using industry best practices and coordinate with the entire messaging ecosystem to make sure wireless service providers deliver your text messages. Find a Partner. Once you have your code, you need to develop your campaign. See Use Cases. Working with a partner, the next step will be to submit your campaign application for approval.

A dedicated short code owner would also have ownership over all keywords associated with the short code number. The keyword is what differentiates each user of the short code and determines who will receive messages sent to the short number.

Very few businesses own their own dedicated short code due to the requirements, time, and expense it takes to provision one. In most cases a mobile marketing provider will own the dedicated short code and sell packages that include use of the short code, a keyword, and a specified number of messages.

Shortcodes have been made more popular in the last few years by a number of television shows that allow viewers to text a message to a short number. Examples include viewers sending a text message to a short code to vote for their favorite contestant of a reality tv show, or to make a charitable donation. These shortcodes have since become a very effective form of marketing for nearly any type of business. The use of short codes has boomed in the business industry as more and more companies are realizing that text message marketing is a very quick, inexpensive, and more productive way to reach their customers or potential customers.

Once a short code has been provisioned to a company they may start using that short number to send and receive MMS and SMS messages. However, there are a number of rules and regulations that govern any short code. In the last decade, text or SMS short codes have become more and more popular.

To subscribe to a short code message or distribution list, you have to text in an SMS keyword, or sign-up using a web form. Think of a keyword as the secret word you need when you knock on a door.

The software validates the code and responds with your specific offer or confirmation message. There is one exception to this rule. Transactional messages include:. If you no longer want to receive communications from an SMS short code, you can stop all future messages by replying with the word STOP.

The sender is then obligated to cease all communications with you, just as a newsletter opt-out removes you from receiving any email communications that are unwanted. Toll-free numbers provide many of the same benefits as short codes. They have a high throughput, meaning they can be used to send many messages at once. Plus, you can use them for two-way messaging. The point is that you can start sending mass texts, even without a short code. We can help you lease a dedicated short code.

Yes—in the wireless communications industry, text short codes are leased, not sold. Dedicated short codes take about 4 weeks to be approved by the governing body and the various telecom carriers. Two types of dedicated short codes are available: a vanity short code with a customized number and a random short code with a predetermined number that you cannot request or change. A company like SimpleTexting can help you select the right type of short code for your specific use case.

Random Short Codes Random short codes are exactly the same as vanity codes. The only difference is that the number is randomly generated, and costs half as much to lease. Once the code is leased from usshortcodes. These fees are non-refundable regardless of whether any wireless service provider agrees to activate your code. Payment must be received in full for the duration of the registration within 60 days of your order or your code will be placed back in the available pool.

Important: You need a Short Code Registry account in order to get a code. Once set up, select "Apply for New Short Code" and complete the order form. You can purchase up to 20 short codes on a single order, each leased for 3-, 6-, or month terms. Get Started. Omni Dallas Hotel — housing over employees and occupants within its 1, rooms — needed to communicate with all of their associates during a city-wide emergency.

See Case Study.