T-Mobile vs Shortcodes?

by nerfsmurf

Posted: 10 years ago 15 replies

OFFLINE MARKETING

So, as i mentioned in an earlier post, I'm launching my SMS service soon. While familiarizing myself with Limes WL platform, I noticed that when i try to send my keyword to the shortcode (71441), I would receive "Unable to send message - Message Blocking is active". So after a bit of Google research, I just see that t-mobile blocks EZ Texting's 313131 shortcode, nothing about 71441s.

Has anyone else encountered this? My concern is what if I try to demo this technology to my potential clients and they whip out their t-mobile phone! "Oh you got t-mobile? ehhh, wont work right unless you (and your tmobile subscribers) contact tmobile and tell them to blah blah blah"

#shortcodes #tmobile

umc 10 years ago

If you don't get a response here (I'm no help), you might want to post in the Mobile Marketing forum here. Just a suggestion if nobody here can help and if you didn't realize there was a whole section devoted to the mobile side of things.
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nerfsmurf 10 years ago

Yea, I kinda figured that. I posted here because I found that SMS topics were abundant here. If a mod would kindly move the topic, that would be great!
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umc 10 years ago

Oh, you may find someone here that knows. I certainly don't. I just mentioned it in case you weren't aware of the mobile forum, as there are many forums here and I myself tend to overlook others because I spend most of my time here. I've just found some really good answers over on the mobile forum before as some of those guys had very specific knowledge, and you have a pretty specific issue.

Good luck with it. That issue seems strange.
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nerfsmurf 10 years ago

True about the specificity of this case, ill post there. Thanks
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imsolutionsgroup 10 years ago

The issue with shortcodes is that many business/companies/people are all using the same shortcode...just with different keywords. That means if someone sharing the same shortcode as you is sending spam, or at least being reported for spam, that shortcode could be blacklisted by the phone carriers...and you may never really know.

I suggest either look into purchasing your own shortcode or use your own longcode number.
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- Boatguy 10 years ago
  
  Hey nerfsmurf,
  
  Congrats on being close to launching your SMS biz. Shared shortcodes can be a problem because if there is anyone using that code and abusing the system the carries will block it without hesitation because the legal risks are too high.
  
  You may already be aware but the SMS landscape has change dramatically in the just the last year. Legal compliance issues are Huge! Again, you may be fully aware of them but if not you should get up to speed on them before launching.
  
  I would highly suggest looking at ctia.org and do a search on "TCPA"
  and other place to bone up on the issues.
  
  Also, did you know that there is a company that owns a patent on elements of text messaging? You can read about here AvidMobile | Patent PDF Download . It seems crazy but it is true. So it would be in your interest to make sure your SMS company is aware of that too.
  
  Anyway don't mean to discourage you in any way. Just wanted to make sure you know the rules of the game because the penalties are pretty severe.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Markmobiler 10 years ago
  
  I posted in another thread, but that is what I heard... Lime's short code is out on T-Mobile and Sprint.
  Someone just emailed me and told me that AvidMobile has multiple short codes in case of just such a thing.
  thinking about going with them.
  
  any thoughts from anyone? do they have good short codes?
  
  Thanks
  
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joecarson1 10 years ago

Haha I hope allot of people read this bogus thread and run wild with total BS that has been posted in here. More money for me and those who have clue!
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nerfsmurf 10 years ago

Lime currently has 2 shortcodes and are negotiating with Sprint. I received a email and they stated that Sprint should be working with their shortcode(s) by the end of this month. I am not sure if their new shortcode is already in the clear. Negotiations with T-mobile were underway at the time the email was dispersed and so their status is pending.
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TrumpiaTim 10 years ago

This block by carriers can be removed if it's for specific phone numbers.
However, if the short code has been suspended by T-Mobile and it's a global impact for all T-Mobile phone numbers, the suspension may take quite some time to be removed.
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elkiehound 10 years ago

Anytime you are using a shared short code provider, there is a risk that one of the merchants (and there are 1000's) will not comply, and the entire short code gets banned by the carrier. The compliance requirements are getting more complexed as time goes on. It's just a risk of being in the business.

And even if you have a backup Shortcode available (which Lime and Avid both have now), you still need to change all your marketing collateral to instruct new customers to opt-in with the new shortcode. It's not just flipping a switch.
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TrumpiaTim 10 years ago

Yes, anytime there is a short code issue, new collateral must be develop to accomodate the new short code.
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- elkiehound 10 years ago
  
  I believe that Sprint has restored the Lime Shortcode. However, T-Mobile is still blocking, apparently indefinitely. Which means for new opt-in's from T-Mobile using the Lime short code, they will get an error message. Lime also now has two short codes that can be used, as does Avid's backup Shortcode. Although, changing short codes in the middle of a campaign, is costly and confusing to consumers.
  
  White Label resellers of SMS, have clients who self-manage these Text Messaging platforms on their own without any guidance or filtering for compliance. With all the regulations from CTIA, MMA, and now the FCC as well as the individual carriers looking for SPAM, it only takes one small business to send out one message that is inappropriate and all (100's or 1000's) of merchants who use the short codes will get impacted.
  
  Thus is the risk of Shared Short Codes, now magnified with more regulation. Just be aware of the risk, it is still a good business model.
  
  Thanks
  
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- joecarson1 10 years ago
  
  Trumpia Tim, the LIME issue was based on adult content advertising using the LIME short-code[T-Mobile does not allow this] . Can you confirm if Trumpia allows the use of its short code[s] for adult content and if so, what would prevent T-Mobile suspending Trumpia's short code or any carriers the same way they did LIME's?
  
  Thanks
  
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TrumpiaTim 10 years ago

Great points Elkiehound, to avoid the headaches we generally recommend leasing a dedicated short code if sms resellers have the budget for it.

For JoeCarson1, Trumpia does NOT allow adult content advertising on our short codes to prevent exactly what happened to other sms white label providers with their SMS short code being suspended indefinitely.
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