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Usage of Common Short
Codes (CSC) in the U.S.
Common Short Codes were introduced by
CTIA, the association for U.S. wireless carriers, in November 2003.
A CSC is a 5-digit number (between 2xxxx and 9xxxx), to which wireless
subscribers can address text messages, regardless of their wireless
service provider. The recent high demand for short codes has prompted
the CTIA to make available 6-digit codes.
Short Codes come in two types:
- Random: You cannot
choose your own 5 digit number. A random number gets allocated
to you.
- Vanity: You get to
choose your own 5 digit number, based on availability, much like a
vanity toll-free/800 phone number.
The following U.S. wireless carriers are participating in the CSC
program, whereby they all agree to
interoperate with each other in forwarding incoming and outgoing
text messages to each other's networks:
- Verizon Wireless
- AT&T Mobility (Cingular)
- T-Mobile
- Sprint/Nextel
- Boost
- Alltel
- Virgin Mobile
- US Cellular
- Dobson Cellular
- Cricket Communications
- Rural Cellular Corporation
- Western Wireless.
Carriers are requiring the use
of a Common Short Code FOR EVERY FORM OF TEXT MESSAGING BASED
COMMUNICATION with their subscribers. Even if you are not
interested in 2-way, incoming Mobile Originated (MO) messages,
or Premium SMS campaigns, you will still need a Short Code.
Hence, the notion of "bulk sms" whereby you can send any message
with any originator to any subscriber without carrier approval
does not exist in the US. Each campaign, each
communication with a carrier's subscriber requires prior carrier
approval, which is administered through the CSC process.
Some providers allow you to
send message at very low cost without Short Codes. They
typically use the free email gateways operated by various
carriers. These email gateways are not only unreliable,
they are also not suitable for any application-driven, or
application2person traffic. Carrier are actively
monitoring traffic from these email gateways and any
application-originating traffic is considered an abuse of the
system and will be blocked. Hence, we highly discourage
the use of these gateways.
Other providers offer 10 digit
regular numbers to send and receive text messages. They
typically operate a phone modem bank and send/recieve messages
through these modems. Not only is such a solution not
allowed buy the carriers, it has also proven to be a very
unreliable solution and impossible to scale.
Bottom Line: Any
application-driven messaging service in the U.S. requires the
use of a Common Short Code
Common Short Codes:
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