

The termination of shared short codes is primarily intended to reduce customer complaints about spam and unwanted text messages. Infographic – What is Short Code Why Are Shared Short Codes Going Away? As of June 1, 2021, all major wireless carriers will eliminate shared short codes entirely. Many service providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, allow SMS shared short code services but not for long. Companies often choose to use the same SMS short code to message customers because it is less expensive than having a private short code. Shared Short CodesĪ shared short code is a type of short code that thousands of organizations share to text their own customers. Each keyword can be unique to the campaign, making it easy to see which short code messages resonate with the intended audience. When used for marketing purposes, SMS short codes enable the sending company to track the success of their campaigns. The keyword does more than just give the recipient a way to join. Short Code Texting: Which is Right for Your Business? The CSCA requires service providers to allow subscribers to accept or decline these messages to limit spam. The texts always ask us to type in a keyword to opt-in for future messages or participate in a marketing campaign.

We’ve all received these texts, typically from organizations sending reminders, coupons, delivery or pickup times, alerts, or some other transactional or promotional message. Then the entity must ask every wireless provider to recognize and route messages using that code to the service provider.” Any entity that wishes to operate a service based on a short code must first lease the short code from the CSCA. Short codes are rented to the public by the Common Short Code Administration (“CSCA”). The FCC says, “Short codes and long codes are analogous to phone numbers the code determines to whom the message is sent and how the message is routed. Short codes are a great way to send mass text messages. Unlike a regular 10-digit phone number (or “long code”), an SMS short code is only five or six digits and used for texting customers versus calling them. For those who may need a refresher or never gave them much thought, we’ll bring you up to speed. If your company already uses shared short codes to communicate with prospects and customers, you likely know exactly what they are.
