Short codes are special telephone numbers, significantly shorter than full
telephone numbers, that can be used to address SMS and MMS messages from
certain service providers' mobile phones or fixed phones. There are two types of
short codes: dialing and messaging. The equivalent for voice calls is known as
abbreviated dialing. Short codes are designed to be easier to
read and remember than normal telephone numbers. Like telephone numbers, short
codes are unique to each operator at the technological level. Even so, providers
generally have agreements to avoid overlaps. In some countries, such as the
United States, some classes of numbers are inter-operator.
Short codes are widely used for value-added services such as television
program voting, ordering ringtones, charity donations and mobile services.
Messages sent to a short code can be billed at a higher rate than a standard
SMS and may even subscribe a customer to a recurring monthly service that will be
added to the customer's mobile phone bill until the user texts, for example,
the word "STOP" to terminate the service.
Technology Normal telephone numbers may be of any
length, and so when dialed from landline telephones, the network must apply
heuristics to determine when dialing is complete — in the US, for example,
dialed numbers are generally seven or ten digits long, sometimes requiring "1"
to be prefixed. On mobile phones, numbers are terminated with the "Send"
or "Call" key and sent all at once over the network, so the network knows the
end of the dialed number, and thus one can use short numbers without clashing
with longer numbers. For instance, on a land-line phone, one
could not use the short code 12345, since then one could not dial the phone
number 1-234-555-4626, but on a mobile phone there is no such ambiguity.
Short codes and service identifiers Short codes are often associated with
automated services. An automated program can handle the response and typically
requires the sender to start the message with a command word or prefix. The
service then responds to the command appropriately.
In ads or in other printed material where a provider has to inform about
both the prefix and the short code number, the advertisement will typically
follow this format: Example 1 - Long version: Text Football
to 72404 for latest football news. Example 2 - Short version: av-alsnet
Regional differences European Union
Common EU-wide codes start with 11. Examples include: 118xxx - directory
services, 116xxx - emergency helplines. This is in addition to the EU-wide
emergency number 112. Albania
Short Codes are five digits in length and start with 5, also are known as
short codes for value added service. Australia
Short codes are six or eight digits in length, starting with the prefix "19"
followed by an additional four or six digits and two. Communications Alliance
Ltd and WMC Global are responsible for governing premium and standard rate
short codes in Australia. Transactional and Subscription services require a
double sms MO opt-in or Web based opt-in with an MO reply.
Belgium Codes are four digits in length.
Brazil Codes are five digits in length.
Canada Canadian Common Short Codes can be five
or six digits long. Common Short Codes beginning with a leading '4' are
reserved for private use by wireless network operators. Four-digit Common
Short Codes are not permitted due to handset incompatibilities. Short
code-based messages vary between zero-rated, standard rate, and premium
rate. Canadian Short codes are governed by the Canadian Wireless
Telecommunications Association. Chile
Codes are three and four digits in length.
Czech Republic Messages sent to/from these short codes
are known as Premium Rate SMS. Codes are seven digits in length for MO and five
or eight for MT direction, starting with nine, while two or three trailing digits
express the price, e.g. SMS sent to 9090930 is billed for Kč30. Leading
three digits are purpose type prefixes, digits at position four and five
determines the service provider registered by a network operator. There
are also other four digit shortcodes, used by a network operators for service
only purposes Denmark
Codes are four digits in length. Dominican Republic
Codes are four or five digits in length. Finland
Codes are five or more digits in length, usually five or six.
France Codes are five digits in length.
Starting digits define the cost of the service.
Germany Codes are four or five digits in length.
Greece Codes are five digits in length.
Hungary Codes are four or five digits in length.
India There are many companies in the Indian
market who rent keywords, on a monthly basis, whose characters, on a typical
mobile phone keypad, represent short codes. Short codes are five digits in
length and have to start with the digit '5'. The five digits can be extended by
three digits further representing three additional characters. Texts sent to
these Short Codes are commonly referred to as Premium Rate SMS Messages and cost
around Rs 1 to Rs 3 per text depending on the operator as well as the service.
Any length of full message can be sent, ranging from 100–500.
Indonesia Codes are four digits in length with
Rp2000 premium price. Republic of Ireland
Short codes are five digits in length, and start with 5. The second digit
generally indicates the maximum price, with 0 = completely free, 1 = standard
text rate only, 3 = €0.60, and 7 having no maximum. Codes beginning 59 are
ostensibly intended for adult services, but few if any of these codes are used.
Italy In Italy short codes have no fixed
length, starting from three digits up to five. All short codes that start with
the digit "4", are designated by a local telecommunications law for "network
services". Widely known short codes are in the 48xxx range, commercial ringtones
and mobile stuff download. Korea, South
Codes are generally four to six digits in length, however short codes have no
fixed length. Latvia
In Latvia short codes also have no fixed length, starting from three digits up to
five. All 4 digit short codes that start with "118" or 5 digit short codes that
start with "1184" are designated to information service providers.
Lithuania In Lithuania short codes also have no
fixed length, starting from three digits up to five. All short codes that start
with the digit "1", are designated by a local telecommunications law for
"network services". Malaysia
Codes are five digits in length, start with "2" or "3", premium pricing from
RM0.30 up to 10.00. Codes are MT billed so subscription services are allowed.
Upon service description approval by mobile operators, dedicated codes are
generally live in 4 weeks, and shared codes after 1 week.
Morocco Code are four keys digits in length.
Nepal Codes are three to four digits in
length. Dialing shortcodes are generally 3 digits, and reserved for public
services. SMS shortcodes are used for a range of purposes, and are four digits.
The Netherlands Codes are four digits in length.
Nigeria Codes are four to five digits in length.
Norway Codes are four and five digits in
length. New Zealand
Codes are three and four digits in length.
Pakistan Codes are three and four digits in
length. Users are charged PKR 5 - PKR 25 per SMS sent on short codes. Mobile
operators charge a setup fee, monthly fee and fee per keyword for short codes.
Short codes usage must abide by the rules set by PTA.
Panama Codes are four digits in length.
Poland Commercial codes are five digit long and
are reachable from both mobile and fixed networks. Calls to short codes - from
any type of network - are routed based on the location of the number
originating the call; hence, if wishing to reach a particular geographical area,
the subscriber might need to prefix the short code with an appropriate area
code. Philippines
Codes are four digits in length. The National Telecommunications Commission
is a regulatory agency providing an environment that ensures reliable,
affordable and viable infrastructure and services in information and
communications technology accessible to all. Although the NTC is ultimately
responsible for the governance of premium and non-premium shortcodes in
the Philippines, the NTC's regulatory guidelines are not comprehensive when
applied to shortcodes. Instead NTC's guidelines focus more on the carriers
and the carrier's technical infrastructure. NTC's website does not
contain any specific information with regard to premium SMS or standard rate
SMS. There is relevant documentation for Bulk SMS and SPAM control via NTC's
"AMENDMENT TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON BROADCAST MESSAGING SERVICES",
however again is not directly related to premium SMS.
Russia Codes are four digits in length. The
cost of the call or SMS to the short number varies from 1.2 to 300 rubles,
depending on the number and the carrier. Serbia
Codes are four digits in length. Singapore
Codes are five digits in length. South Africa
Codes are five digits in length. Short codes will start with either a "3" or
"4". For example, 34001 or 42001. Each short code or short code range are
assigned specific tariffs or end user prices. The tariff charges can range
from R0.50 to R30.00 on mobile originated billing and from R0.50 to
R50.00 using mobile terminated billing. Due to high costs associated with short
code rental many providers offer shared shortcodes, which greatly reduces costs.
Spain Codes are four digits in length.
Sweden Codes are five digits in length.
Switzerland Codes are three to five digits in
length; codes starting with "6" are reserved for adult services.
Taiwan Codes are usually four digits in length,
starting with digits "19". Turkey
Codes are four digits in length. United Kingdom
Codes are five digits in length, mostly starting with 6 or 8. Codes starting 70
are used by charities. The range of codes may be expanded in time to use
other leading digits such as 4. Adult related mobile services must use codes
starting with 69 or 89. Mobile operators sometimes use proprietary codes. SMS
short codes are often owned by holding companies who then lease them out to
service providers and advertisers to promote SMS services, charitable
fundraising and marketing promotions such as news alerts, voting and quizzes.
Shortcodes can also be used to deliver additional content or a mobile URL link
that when prompted opens the mobile web browser linking the user to a mobile web
page. Premium SMS services use codes that can be set to deliver a charge to a
participant’s mobile phone. Other codes can be free to receive “your standard
rate applies” or free to send and receive. UK Premium rated SMS services
are regulated by PhonepayPlus. All charges and associated terms linked to a
premium code should be transparent to the consumer. To stop a subscription
based shortcode service text the word 'STOP' to the shortcode number.
United States As of May 31, 2006, the standard lengths
for interoperable short codes are five and six digits. Carriers use short codes
with fewer digits for carrier-specific programs - e.g., "Text 611 to see how
many minutes you have remaining on your plan." Codes starting with 1 are not
permitted. Common short codes in the U.S. are administered by Neustar, under
a deal with Common Short Code Administration - CTIA. Short codes can
be leased at the rate of $1000 a month for a selected code or $500 for a random
code. Some carriers assign a subset of their carrier-specific codes to third
parties. Alternatives to short codes for SMS
reception An alternative to inbound SMS is based
on long numbers, which can be used in place of short codes or premium-rated
short messages for SMS reception in several applications, such as television
voting, product promotions and campaigns. Long numbers are
internationally available, as well as enabling businesses to have their own
number, rather than short codes which are usually shared across a number of
brands. Additionally, long numbers are non-premium inbound numbers.
References External links
Australian short code search Short Code Management Group
Common Short Code Administration Independent US Short Codes WHOIS
Directory