SMS Short Code Application Process
Learn how to get your SMS API short code.
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Important Information
This guide covers the information you’ll need to apply for a short code for our programmable SMS (SMS Notify!). It is recommended that you review this guide prior to completing the short code application form and use it as a reference tool. You may also use this as a supplement to your conversation with a Esendex team member.
What is Involved in the Short Code Application Process?
Your short code will need to be approved by all of SMS Notify!’s supported carriers before it can be used.
After your application is submitted, SMS Notify! will work on your behalf with the carriers to complete your application approval.
Apply for a Short Code
- Review SMS Notify!’s Short Code Application Process Guide and SMS Notify! Short Code page.
- Contact an Esendex Sales Team member with any questions you may have.
- Complete and submit your short code application form. The submitted application will be reviewed by an Esendex team member and sent off to begin the 6 to 8-week carrier approval process. The application fee is due after application approval.
- Short code is approved by carriers and is now ready for use.
Interested in Applying?
Before completing your application, please review the information below to acquaint yourself with the product features, costs, and policies of a short code. This will help prepare you for completing the application form.
Overview
Short codes are 5 to 6-digit phone numbers used for high volume texting. Short codes allow you to send and receive up to 9,000 messages per minute compared to a traditional 10-digit phone number, which allows you to send 30 messages per minute. Both SMS short codes and SMS long codes are used with SMS Notify! API.
Short Code Features
- Send/Receive 9,000 messages per minute.
- No limit to how many texts can be sent per day.
- Increase brand recognition with a unique code.
- View delivery receipts and message content on your PostBackURL in real-time.
- Set up custom keywords with automatic responses to incoming messages.
Overview
Your short code will need to be approved by all SMS Notify!’s supported carriers before it can be used. After your application is submitted, Esendex will work on your behalf with the carriers to complete your application approval.
Short Code Application Review (1-2 Days)
- Submit your short code application to Esendex.
- Your application is reviewed by one of our team members.
- Once your application is approved by us it is sent to the carriers for review.
- Your first invoice will be issued with the application fee included.
Carrier Review (6-8 Weeks)
- Wireless carriers review your application and any other related information.
- If any questions come up, we work to get them answered as quickly as possible.
- Carriers give final approval and your short code is now active and ready for use.
Coverage
SMS Notify! presently supports short codes in the U.S. and Canada. Short codes are country specific and can only be used within the country they are provisioned. If you wish to send messages via short code in both countries, a short code will be necessary for each country.
Short Code Costs
The costs accompanying Short Codes include the lease fee, setup fee and transaction charges. Below is a detailed breakdown of pricing and billing.
United States Pricing
The cost of leasing a short code via SMS Notify! will include:
- Your monthly short code lease fee (determined by type of code).
- One-time setup fee (determined by type of code).
- Per message fee (varies between SMS and MMS).
Short Code Type
Dedicated Short Code
Vanity Short Code
Monthly Lease Fee
$1,000.00
$1,500.00
One-Time Setup Fee
$3,200.00
$3,200.00
All prices in U.S.D. are subject to change
Please Contact Sales for more information about our Canadian short codes.
SMS Messaging Cost
Outbound
$0.0075 / message
Inbound
$0.005 / message
Standard short code carrier fees apply.
Each message sent and received with your SMS Notify! Short Code incurs a transactional charge.
If you require a high volume of SMS messages per month, you may be eligible for a volume-based discount.
Volume Pricing
> 250K / Month
$0.007 / Message
> 1 Million / Month
$0.006 / Message
5 Million / Month
$0.004 / Message
10 Million / Month
Contact Sales
SMS Carrier Costs
Outbound
Verizon
AT&T
Sprint / Boost / Virgin
T-Mobile / Metro
U.S. Cellular
Inbound
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0050 / Message
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0035 / Message
MMS Messaging Costs
Outbound
$0.0175 / Message
Inbound
$0.01 / Message
Standard short code carrier fees apply.
SMS Carrier Costs
Outbound
Verizon
AT&T
Sprint / Boost / Virgin
T-Mobile / Metro
U.S. Cellular
Inbound
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0050 / Message
$0.0025 / Message
$0.0035 / Message
Billing
You will be billed by SMS Notify! once a month from the day you submit your short code application. Your one-time setup fee will be included in your first invoice. Because the carrier approval process can take 6–10 weeks, it is posssible that your short code may not be active before your invoice is due. You are required to pay for your short code during the approval process.
Opt-In Requirement
The main requirement for compliance is ensuring that your recipients have agreed to or “opted-in” to receiving text messages from you. Opt-in can be obtained via a phone, website or paper form.
Opt-In Via Mobile Phone
A recipient can opt-in into a campaign by texting a short code.
Example - Recipient: “Keyword”
Short Code
Thank you for subscribing to “Campaign Name” “Description” Alerts. Msg&data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel.
The description section of the response should identify the type of alerts the recipient will receive (ex. Account Alerts).
Opt-In Via Website, App, Paper Form, Verbal Agreement, Etc.
A recipient signs up and receives a confirmation opt-in text message. Recipients may also confirm opt-in by entering a verification code online, which will trigger the first message after code is successfully entered.
Example:
Short Code
A recipient can opt-in into a campaign by texting a short code.
Example - Recipient: “Keyword”
Short Code
Text JOIN to start receiving “Campaign Name” “Description” Alerts. Msg&data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel.
Example - Recipient: “JOIN”
Thank you for subscribing to “Campaign Name” “Description” Alerts. Msg&data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel.
Another industry guideline your short code must comply with is responding to the keywords HELP and STOP. It is necessary that you add an opt-out list as well as HELP and STOP replies into your application.
HELP Reply
It is industry standard that a compliant response be sent when your recipient enters HELP to your short code campaign even if they are not subscribed. The reply must contain the Campaign Name as well as one form of support contact information.
Example - Recipient: “HELP”
Short Code
“Campaign Name” “Description” Alerts. HELP at “Phone Number” or “Email”. Msg&data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel.
STOP Reply
It is an industry standard that a compliant response be sent when your recipient enters STOP or other universal keywords such as: STOP, CANCEL, END, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT to your short code campaign. The reply must contain the Campaign Name as well as content stating that messages will no longer be sent.
Example - Recipient: “STOP”
You have been unsubscribed from “Campaign Name” Alerts. You will no longer receive messages from this service. Reply RESUME to Resume.
Opt-Out List
You are required to store a list of phone numbers that have replied STOP or any other universal stop keywords. No additional messages can be sent to these numbers unless a new opt-in or RESUME request is received.
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