Business text messaging has changed in the recent past as major carriers made it mandatory for companies to register their 10-digit long code (10DLC) numbers to send business SMS. As of July 5, 2023, mobile carriers have stepped up penalties for unregistered numbers, and by August 31, they began blocking texts from those unregistered 10DLC numbers entirely.
To keep your text messaging campaigns successful and maintain your reputation and return on investment (ROI), it’s crucial to register your 10DLC numbers as soon as possible. The registration process is straightforward, but understanding why it’s necessary can be a bit complex.
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about A2P 10DLC text messaging and provide a clear guide on How to Register for A2P 10DLC Text Messaging.
What is A2P 10DLC?
A2P 10DLC, or Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code, is a standardized method that empowers companies to send Application-to-Person (A2P) messages using a regular 10-digit long code Phone Number.
In straightforward terms, A2P 10DLC ensures that text messages from businesses are authenticated by the service provider and directed through a software interface, such as a web, desktop, or mobile app.
This approach enhances the reliability and security of text messaging, offering businesses a seamless and trustworthy way to engage with their audience using familiar long-code phone numbers.
Why Do You Need to Register for A2P 10DLC Text Messaging?
1. To Combat Spam and Fraud
The primary purpose of A2P 10DLC Registration is to combat the longstanding issues of spam and fraud in text messaging services. By requiring businesses to register and go through an approval process, wireless carriers can screen out potential bad actors engaged in spam or fraudulent activities.
2. To Enhance Customer Experience
Registration ensures that businesses using A2P 10DLC are more likely to send relevant and timely messages, contributing to an improved customer experience. By filtering out unwanted or untimely messages, customer trust is strengthened, fostering a positive interaction between businesses and their audience.
3. To Hold Bad Actors Accountable
A2P 10DLC registration enables wireless carriers to hold bad actors accountable more effectively. By implementing a vetting process, carriers can identify and take action against businesses that may misuse the messaging service, reinforcing a sense of responsibility within the industry.
4. To Ensure Compliance with Regulations
Registration is mandated to ensure that businesses using text messaging services comply with all relevant laws and regulations. This regulatory alignment not only helps in curbing spam and fraud but also establishes a framework that promotes responsible and lawful use of A2P 10DLC.
5. To Bridge the Gap Between Short Codes and Trustworthy Messaging
A2P 10DLC serves as a bridge between the traditional use of shortcodes (still prevalent in marketing) and the need for trustworthy business messaging. With the introduction of 10DLC, businesses can build trust with recipients who opt to receive important messages, such as job openings, weather alerts, appointment reminders, and communications from religious organizations.
6. Improve Overall Messaging System
Registration contributes to the overall improvement of the messaging system by encouraging responsible usage. It ensures that businesses adopting A2P 10DLC adhere to standards, fostering a more reliable and efficient messaging ecosystem that benefits both businesses and end-users.
How Much Does 10DLC Registration Cost?
The cost of A2P 10DLC registration varies based on several factors, including the campaign type, message volume, and service provider. As for Rent SMS, the cost for A2P 10DLC registration is discussed below:
One-time setup fee
Brand Registration Fee: $4
Campaign Vetting Fee: $15
Monthly campaign fees
Low Volume Standard campaign fee: $1.5/month
Sole proprietor campaign fee: $2/month
What Are the Available Types of Campaigns and Use Cases?
The types of campaigns available with Rent SMS are as follows:
- Standard Campaign
- Low-Volume Mixed Campaign
- Sole Proprietor Campaign
Standard Campaign Use Cases
Campaign use case | Description |
---|---|
Account Notifications | Updates & notifications about account changes and related activities |
Customer Care | Support, account management, and providing quick answers to customers’ queries |
Delivery Notifications | Provide updates regarding the status of the delivery. |
Higher Education | Alerts, updates & messages from schools, colleges & universities |
Marketing | Inform about deals, discounts, offers & other promotional messages |
Mixed | A campaign that covers two or more use cases such as Account Notifications and Customer Care. |
Low-Volume Mixed Campaign Use Cases
Low-Volume Mixed Campaign caters to businesses with modest daily messaging needs. Ideal for those with lower throughput requirements, this specialized use case offers the flexibility of supporting various messaging scenarios. Despite the lower monthly fee compared to standard campaigns, businesses benefit from the same diverse range of use cases.
From marketing promotions to essential alerts, the Low-Volume Mixed Campaign accommodates multiple messaging needs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adaptability.
It’s particularly advantageous for businesses aiming to maintain a consistent messaging strategy without committing to higher throughput tiers, making it a budget-friendly solution for reaching their audience effectively.
Sole Proprietor Campaign Use Cases
The Sole Proprietor package registration is a game-changer for individuals or small businesses without an Employer Identification Number (EIN) who engage in low-volume messaging.
Tailored for simplicity, this package allows one Campaign with one phone number and a throughput limit of 1 message per second (MPS). While the registration incurs a one-time $15 Campaign vetting fee, there’s also a recurring monthly fee.
A2P 10DLC Campaign Registration For Sole Proprietors
Step 1: Log in to your Rent SMS account.
Step 2: Go to Settings menu and click on My Numbers.
Step 3: In doing so, you can find the message saying “US phone users must complete A2P 10DLC registration. Please, submit business info to register.” on the top of the page and Learn More and Submit buttons right next to it. Click the Submit button to proceed.
Step 4: After that, the A2P 10DLC Registration Form will appear on your screen. For the question “Is your business registered in the USA and/or Canada?”, select your answer from the given set of options and hit Next button.
Step 5: You will then be asked whether your business has a tax ID. Select your answer from the given options and click the Next button to continue.
Note: If you selected No as your answer in the Step 4, this window won’t appear on your screen.
Step 6: Based on your answer on Step 5, the next window will show the messaging capabilities you will get after registering for A2P 10DLC and the cost that will incur in doing so. Below the information, there is I agree to register checkbox. Click on it and click the Next button to continue.
Step 7: You will then be asked if you would like to register for a Sole Proprietor package. Select the Yes, I would like to register for a Sole Proprietor package radio button and click the Next button.
Step 8: Now provide information in order to register your brand as a sole proprietor. For that, you need to fill in details like Your Name, Profile Name, Rent SMS Workspace Name, Rent SMS Account Email, Address, Brand Name, Brand Industry, Your US/Canadian Number, etc. Once you are done filling in the details, check on I agree the above information is correct and I agree to a one-time A2P Sole Proprietor registration fee and click Next.
Step 9: After that create your A2P campaign. To create your campaign, provide information like A2P Campaign use cases, Campaign description, sample messages, whether your message will contain links and phone numbers, how end-users consented to receive messages, etc. Once you are done, agree to the terms and conditions and click the Register A2P Campaign button.
Step 10: Your details will then be reviewed by our team and will be forwarded to the carrier. After the approval from the carrier, you can then start running your SMS campaign.
A2P 10DLC Campaign Registration For Standard or Low Volume Standard Brand Registration
Step 1: Log in to your Rent SMS account.
Step 2: Go to Settings menu and click on My Numbers.
Step 3: In doing so, you can find the message saying “US phone users must complete A2P 10DLC registration.Please, submit business info to register.” on the top of the page and Learn More and Submit buttons right next to it. Click the Submit button to proceed.
Step 4: For the question “Is your business registered in the USA and/or Canada?”, Answer Yes and click the Next button.
Step 5: In doing so, you’ll be asked whether the business you’re registering has a tax ID. Click the Yes, the business I’m registering has a tax ID radio button, and press Next.
Step 6: The next window will show the messaging capabilities you will get after registering for A2P 10DLC and the cost that will incur in doing so. Below the information, there is I agree to register checkbox. Click on it and click the Next button to continue.
Step 7: The next window will ask you details about your business in order to register it in The Campaign Registry (TCR). So you need to fill in details like Legal Business Name, Business Type, Business Registration ID Type, Business Registration Number (EIN/Tax ID), Business Industry, Website URL, Business Region of Operation, etc. Once you are done filling in the details, hit the Save and Continue Button.
Step 8: You will then be asked to provide some additional details like your Rent SMS Account Email, Rent SMS Workspace Name, Details of Authorized Representative, Business Address, etc. Fill in correct details and at the end of the page, click on the checkbox to declare the information you provided is accurate. Afterwards, hit the Next button to continue.
Step 9: Now comes the time to submit your brand. That requires defining your Company Type, Stock Symbol (for Public Company), Type of Brand or SMS volume you may need, etc.
Step 10: After that, you will be asked to create your A2P campaign. To create your campaign, provide information like A2P Campaign use cases, Campaign description, sample messages, whether your message will contain links and phone numbers, how end-users consented to receive messages, etc. Once you are done, agree to the terms and conditions and click the Register A2P Campaign button.
Step 11: Your details will then be reviewed by our team and will be forwarded to the carrier. After the approval from the carrier, you can then start running your SMS campaign.