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Short Codes

SMS Short Codes

Send SMS engagement, marketing and communication messages to your audience, fans and community with dedicated short codes.

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What is a Short Code?

A short code is a 5 or 6 digit phone number that is used by businesses, organizations, and government agencies to send regular text and MMS (picture) messages.  These messages can be used for marketing, communications,  alerts, notifications and more.

These numbers can only be used to send and receive text messages.  They do not have a voice channel to transmit calls.

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The Different Types of Short Codes

There are two different types of short codes used for SMS engagement, random and vanity. They’re the exact same in terms of their functionality and capabilities. It all comes down to the number and associated costs.

Random Short Codes

Random codes are assigned from a pool. They may the best option if you are looking to keep the cost down and can wait a month or so for carrier approval. 

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Vanity Short Codes

Vanity short codes enable you to personalize and brand your texting campaigns. Choose your number from an available pool to have your campaigns stand out. 

Carrier Approved for High Volume Messaging

Mobile campaigns that send a large volume of daily, weekly, or monthly traffic will benefit from using a short code. Short codes are designed for high throughput and idea for large scale campaigns where you don’t need voice as an option.

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Platform Features

Use your short code with our engagement platform to jumpstart your mobile messaging project.

Send Messages at Scale

Short Codes enable you to send messages to small or large databases. Whether you are sending messages to your community, advertisers or employees, short codes will ensure your message arrives in a timely fashion.

API and Zapier Integrations

Easily connect to your platform and software with our API or Zapier integrations. Our robust API enables you to power and complement existing email, push notifications and other messaging.

Easy Setup

We make it easy to navigate the paperwork and regulatory issues you may face when setting up and managing a short code and provide the support you need via email and phone. 

2-Way Texting

Short Codes enable you to engage with your customers in a 2-way conversation. Our portal gives you options to reply, send templated messages, archive and store messages without a steep learning curve.

 

Tracking and Reporting

Advanced tracking and reporting features for your news alerts campaigns. view reports within in the portal for your campaigns and download reports for customized viewing.

Platform Services

Use your short code with our engagement platform to communicate with your audience. Use our platform to send marketing, promotional, information messages and alerts to your customers and community. Advanced features for interactive campaigns and more.

Power Your Engagement Campaigns with SMS/ MMS Short Codes

Deliver messages at scale to your audience with the #1 communication channel, SMS messaging.

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Have Questions about Short Codes?

Give us a shout. We’re here to help, not hard sell you.  

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the common questions about short codes. 

What is a short code?

A short code is a special type of phone number, typically consisting of five to six digits, that’s used primarily for SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages. Unlike traditional phone numbers, short codes are designed for mass messaging and are often used by businesses for marketing campaigns, alerts, and other communication needs.

How does a short code work?

Short codes work in conjunction with mobile carriers. When a message is sent to a short code, it is routed through a mobile carrier to the intended recipient. Similarly, when someone sends a message to a short code, it is directed to a specific application or service. Short codes are especially useful for businesses because they can handle a high volume of messages at once.

Why use a short code for texting ?

Short codes are beneficial for businesses as they are easier to remember due to their fewer characters, and they can be customized for vanity metrics to make a brand’s SMS marketing campaign more memorable. 

What are the costs associated with SMS short codes?

Leasing a short code is generally expensive compared to a 10DLC or Toll-Free texting number.. The price for a non-vanity short code is around $500 per month, while a vanity short code costs around $1,000 per month. There are additional costs for Mission Mobile manage the short code process and support the campaigns associated with it. 

How long does it take to set up a short code?

The time it takes to set up a short code can vary based on several factors, including whether you’re leasing a vanity or regular short code, the specifics of your application, the use case, and any reviews by the carriers that may be necessary. On average, it takes between 8-12 weeks to set up a new dedicated short code.

How can I get a short code for my business?

Short codes are obtained through a process known as leasing. Mission Mobile helps take care of the paperwork for this process and we also provide the platform and or API’ depending on your application. 

Still have questions?

If you can’t find answers to your questions in our FAQ section, you can always contact us. We will get back to you shortly.