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Telnyx offers toll-free, long code and short code SMS, conversational SMS, plus MMS. Read the guide below to find out what's best for your use case.
Toll-free SMS' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E %3Cpath d='M7.778 7.975a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .347-3.837L6.017 2.03a2.498 2.498 0 0 0-3.542-.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .006 3.543l1.153 1.15c.07-.29.154-.563.25-.773.036-.077.084-.16.14-.25L3.18 4.85a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .002-2.12 1.496 1.496 0 0 1 2.12 0l2.124 2.123a1.496 1.496 0 0 1-.333 2.37c.16.246.42.504.685.752z'/%3E %3Cpath d='M5.657 4.557a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.347 3.837l2.108 2.108a2.498 2.498 0 0 0 3.542.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.006-3.543L9.802 5.815c-.07.29-.154.565-.25.774-.036.076-.084.16-.14.25l.842.84c.585.587.59 1.532 0 2.122-.587.585-1.532.59-2.12 0L6.008 7.68a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .332-2.372c-.16-.245-.42-.503-.685-.75z'/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
Toll-free numbers are commonly used for appointment reminders, account notifications and emergency alerts.
- Toll-Free SMS is used to send text messages from toll-free numbers (e.g., 800, 888, 877, etc.).
- Unlike short codes, toll-free numbers can support both phone calls and SMS, so customers can respond to an SMS alert by texting or calling the same number back.
Long Code SMS' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E %3Cpath d='M7.778 7.975a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .347-3.837L6.017 2.03a2.498 2.498 0 0 0-3.542-.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .006 3.543l1.153 1.15c.07-.29.154-.563.25-.773.036-.077.084-.16.14-.25L3.18 4.85a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .002-2.12 1.496 1.496 0 0 1 2.12 0l2.124 2.123a1.496 1.496 0 0 1-.333 2.37c.16.246.42.504.685.752z'/%3E %3Cpath d='M5.657 4.557a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.347 3.837l2.108 2.108a2.498 2.498 0 0 0 3.542.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.006-3.543L9.802 5.815c-.07.29-.154.565-.25.774-.036.076-.084.16-.14.25l.842.84c.585.587.59 1.532 0 2.122-.587.585-1.532.59-2.12 0L6.008 7.68a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .332-2.372c-.16-.245-.42-.503-.685-.75z'/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
Long codes can be used for both person-to-person (P2P) or application-to-person (A2P) use cases like chat applications and customer service.
- Long codes (long virtual numbers, LVNs or long numbers) are 10-digit phone numbers meant for customer service and operational purposes.
- Long codes shouldn’t be used for mass marketing campaigns.
- There’s a potential limit of 200 long code texts per number, per day, if content is similar in each message. This is an estimated number, not definitive — it’s used as a guide to avoid flagging of messages by mobile carriers as SPAM.
- Most customers send from a pool of long codes, allowing them to increase throughput.
- You can control auto-responses for long code SMS, however these can be configured only if the committed account is contracted.
Short Code SMS' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E %3Cpath d='M7.778 7.975a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .347-3.837L6.017 2.03a2.498 2.498 0 0 0-3.542-.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .006 3.543l1.153 1.15c.07-.29.154-.563.25-.773.036-.077.084-.16.14-.25L3.18 4.85a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .002-2.12 1.496 1.496 0 0 1 2.12 0l2.124 2.123a1.496 1.496 0 0 1-.333 2.37c.16.246.42.504.685.752z'/%3E %3Cpath d='M5.657 4.557a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.347 3.837l2.108 2.108a2.498 2.498 0 0 0 3.542.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.006-3.543L9.802 5.815c-.07.29-.154.565-.25.774-.036.076-.084.16-.14.25l.842.84c.585.587.59 1.532 0 2.122-.587.585-1.532.59-2.12 0L6.008 7.68a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .332-2.372c-.16-.245-.42-.503-.685-.75z'/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
Short codes are commonly used for password resets and alerts.
- Short codes (common short code or CSC) are 5- or 6-digit phone numbers that customers can lease from the Common Short Code Administration.
- No opt-in is legally required and for that reason, operators have put more anti-SPAM protections in place. Best practice when using short code SMS is to explicitly ask for opt-ins.
- Common unsubscribe words such as “stop” and “stop all” are supported and won’t allow any further sending to those customers.
MMS' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E %3Cpath d='M7.778 7.975a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .347-3.837L6.017 2.03a2.498 2.498 0 0 0-3.542-.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .006 3.543l1.153 1.15c.07-.29.154-.563.25-.773.036-.077.084-.16.14-.25L3.18 4.85a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .002-2.12 1.496 1.496 0 0 1 2.12 0l2.124 2.123a1.496 1.496 0 0 1-.333 2.37c.16.246.42.504.685.752z'/%3E %3Cpath d='M5.657 4.557a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.347 3.837l2.108 2.108a2.498 2.498 0 0 0 3.542.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.006-3.543L9.802 5.815c-.07.29-.154.565-.25.774-.036.076-.084.16-.14.25l.842.84c.585.587.59 1.532 0 2.122-.587.585-1.532.59-2.12 0L6.008 7.68a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .332-2.372c-.16-.245-.42-.503-.685-.75z'/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
- Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from a mobile phone over a cellular network. Users and providers may refer to such a message as a PXT, a picture message, or a multimedia message. MMS also provides the ability to send and receive attachments.
- Currently only available via long code.
Conversational SMS' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E %3Cpath d='M7.778 7.975a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .347-3.837L6.017 2.03a2.498 2.498 0 0 0-3.542-.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 .006 3.543l1.153 1.15c.07-.29.154-.563.25-.773.036-.077.084-.16.14-.25L3.18 4.85a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .002-2.12 1.496 1.496 0 0 1 2.12 0l2.124 2.123a1.496 1.496 0 0 1-.333 2.37c.16.246.42.504.685.752z'/%3E %3Cpath d='M5.657 4.557a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.347 3.837l2.108 2.108a2.498 2.498 0 0 0 3.542.007 2.5 2.5 0 0 0-.006-3.543L9.802 5.815c-.07.29-.154.565-.25.774-.036.076-.084.16-.14.25l.842.84c.585.587.59 1.532 0 2.122-.587.585-1.532.59-2.12 0L6.008 7.68a1.496 1.496 0 0 1 .332-2.372c-.16-.245-.42-.503-.685-.75z'/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
Common use cases include customer support and appointment reminders.
- Bi-directional SMS provides ability to exchange texts to and from users. This can be possible through either P2P or A2P communication.