Overview

The 10-Digit Long Code (10DLC) represents a significant advancement in the U.S. telecommunications landscape for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging, utilizing traditional 10-digit phone numbers. This development introduces a regulated framework for businesses to enhance SMS and MMS message delivery and engagement, while safeguarding consumers from unsolicited communications. Emphasizing efficiency, 10DLC supports higher messaging volumes and reduced costs compared to conventional local numbers and short codes, coupled with the credibility and responsiveness benefits of exclusive numbering. Additionally, its voice-enabled capabilities facilitate direct callbacks, enriching customer interactions. To leverage 10DLC’s benefits, businesses must navigate a registration process with carriers, adhering to specific legal and online presence requirements. Incorporating 10DLC into communication strategies not only aligns with the most recent industry standards but also ensures compliance and fosters trust in business-consumer messaging.

Key Benefits

• Dedicated messaging channel enhances deliverability
• Higher messaging capacity compared to standard local numbers
• Greater credibility of messages = more likely to garner a response
• Less expensive than shortcodes
• Exclusivity— no sharing of the number with other brands
• Voice capabilities allow for callbacks by the message recipients, unlike short codes
• Separated from spammers. Major mobile carriers are committed to keeping scammers separate from your brand

Prerequisites for Registration

• Legal company name as officially registered
• Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax ID matching the company name
• Business address verification
• Authorized representative contact details
• A valid online presence is mandatory to use A2P SMS services. If no business website is available, a social media profile (Facebook Page or LinkedIn) indicating an active business with engaged followers is acceptable. Failed approvals can result from a non-functional or insecure website (lacking HTTPS), a website containing malware, or a website/social media profile not accurately representing the registered business.
• If the company being registered is public company, stock symbol and stock exchange
• If the company being registered is a non-profit organization, US EIN is required. Non-US non-profit organizations need to be registered as private companies.
• If the company being registered is a government entity, the contact’s first and last names must match an authorized name in the political brand registration. TCR only accepts U.S. Government entities. Government entities outside the U.S. should register as Private companies.

Note: A mismatch between the Legal Company Name and EIN with federal government records is the main reason for an UNVERIFIED status. Submitted information must align with electoral authority records.

Purpose and Impact of 10DLC on Business Messaging

10DLC, or 10-Digit Long Code, is the current industry standard that regulates the Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging ecosystem using traditional 10-digit phone numbers. This standard was established to create a trusted environment for businesses to engage with customers via SMS and MMS messages through long codes.

The primary intent behind the adoption of 10DLC by carriers is to strike a balance between consumer protection and business communication. By providing a certified platform for business messaging, 10DLC aims to shield consumers from unsolicited spam and simultaneously enable businesses to forge stronger connections with their clientele through reliable and secure messaging channels.

Targeted Audience

The intended users for 10DLC are individuals or businesses looking to send messages in the United States or from within the U.S.

10DLC Registration and Campaign Setup in SMS-Magic

In the realm of SMS communication, 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) has emerged as a crucial industry standard, enabling businesses to send messages effectively and securely while safeguarding consumers from unsolicited messages. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the seamless process of registering your brand, efficiently managing campaigns, and ensuring compliance, all within the SMS-Magic application.

Discover how 10DLC can elevate your business communication strategies by providing a trusted platform for sending SMS and MMS messages using long codes. Our step-by-step walkthrough will empower you to harness the power of 10DLC, allowing you to connect with your audience like never before. Let’s embark on this journey to optimize your SMS messaging efforts and establish stronger connections with your customers.

Set Up and Configure A2P 10DLC for Compliant SMS Messaging in SMS-Magic

Utilizing the SMS-Magic application for A2P 10DLC registration becomes a pivotal strategy in enhancing your business messaging. With A2P 10DLC, you leverage a powerful framework designed for mass SMS messaging, ensuring compliance with carrier regulations and boosting the reliability and effectiveness of your communications. The focus is on securing a trusted channel for customer communication and aligning your bulk SMS messaging practices with industry standards, thereby optimizing your messaging strategy for greater impact and compliance.

Utilizing the SMS-Magic application for A2P 10DLC registration becomes a pivotal strategy in enhancing your business messaging. With A2P 10DLC, you leverage a powerful framework designed for mass SMS messaging, ensuring compliance with carrier regulations and boosting the reliability and effectiveness of your communications. The focus is on securing a trusted channel for customer communication and aligning your bulk SMS messaging practices with industry standards, thereby optimizing your messaging strategy for greater impact and compliance.

1. Log in to the SMS-Magic application to register for the A2P 10DLC Form.

2. Select Settings > SMS Services.

3. Locate and click on the 10DLC option from the left sidebar or use the direct link to access the registration form.

The A2P 10 DLC page appears.

• 4. Click on the Learn more link or watch the instructional video for insights into 10DLC.

• 5. Start the brand registration process by clicking Register your brand or Add Brand.

Note: During this process, each brand automatically undergoes an Identity Verification process. This crucial step involves TCR validating your brand’s EIN, Legal Company Name, and Legal Company Address against third-party independent sources. This verification confirms your brand’s legitimacy and assigns an “Identity Status,” essential for proceeding with campaign activations. This step emphasizes the necessity of providing accurate and verifiable details to ensure smooth verification and approval for your 10DLC campaigns.

The Brand Registration page appears. 

6. In the Brand section:

• Company Details: Enter your company’s details meticulously to avoid mismatches and potential rejections. This includes verifying the accuracy of your company’s registered information.
• Company Address: Ensure the address provided aligns with the EIN and the brand name as registered with your company, critical for verification purposes.
• Support Contact: List the contact information of an authorized representative of your company, ensuring a point of contact is available for any inquiries or verification processes.

7. After filling in the brand information, click Submit Brand Details. This action saves your form and triggers the identity verification process.

Upon submission:

• Self-Declared: Your submission is marked as self-declared, indicating that you have provided all necessary details to the best of your knowledge.
• Ready to Submit: SMS-Magic’s team reviews your submission and prepares to submit your details to TCR for verification, marking it as ready to submit.
• Verified: Receiving a “Verified” status signifies that your brand’s identity has been confirmed by TCR, allowing you to proceed with campaign registrations.
• Unverified: If your status is marked as “Unverified,” it indicates discrepancies in your submitted information, commonly due to mismatches between the legal company name, address, and EIN with federal records.

8. After brand verification, proceed to add a campaign by selecting Add Campaign in the Campaign Registered section. This step involves detailing the campaign’s objectives, messaging use cases, and compliance attributes.

Note: In 10DLC registration, the term campaign is used in a technical sense, distinct from a marketing context. Here, campaign refers to the type of message you intend to send rather than a traditional marketing campaign.

8.1 Click the “Add Campaign” option to add a campaign.

The Register Your Campaign screen appears. 

8.2 Configure Campaign Details:

• Use Cases Selection: Choose a USE CASE that aligns with your campaign’s messaging needs. Select from the available standard and special options to ensure the campaign’s purpose is clearly defined.

• Sample Messages and Multimedia: Provide samples of the messages and any multimedia content you plan to use. This step is crucial for informing TCR (The Campaign Registry) about the nature of your campaign’s messaging, ensuring it aligns with the selected use case.

• Campaign and Content Attributes: Detail the mechanisms for opting in and out of the campaign, as well as how participants can seek assistance. It’s important to outline these attributes clearly to guarantee that participants can easily join or leave the campaign and have access to support when needed. This information must be filled in with care to adhere to regulatory requirements and foster a transparent communication environment.

This configuration stage is essential for setting up your campaign in a way that respects user preferences and regulatory guidelines, ensuring a successful and compliant messaging strategy.

8.3 Finalize and Submit Campaign Registration:

• Submission: After completing the campaign setup, review the terms and conditions. Confirm your agreement and click Submit for Approval to officially submit your campaign details for review.

Status Updates:

• Self-Declared: This status is assigned once you’ve accurately filled out and submitted all required campaign details, indicating that your submission is complete on your end.
• Ready to Submit: The submission enters a review phase where SMS-Magic experts assess the information provided. They prepare and forward the campaign details to TCR (The Campaign Registry), marking it as ready for submission. This step is crucial for proceeding with the regulatory approval process.
• Verified: Achieving a “Verified” status signifies that TCR has reviewed and approved your campaign. This approval confirms that your campaign meets all regulatory requirements and is now active, enabling you to begin messaging activities with the assigned numbers.

This final step ensures your campaign is thoroughly reviewed and approved, setting a solid foundation for your messaging efforts to be conducted in compliance with industry standards and best practices.

View or Edit Details:

You can quickly review or edit the information within the SMS magic portal

View Campaigns

You can view your campaigns within the selected Brand. This allows you to keep track of your approved campaigns easily.

In the SMS Magic portal, click on 10DLC A2P Campaigns to access and manage campaigns for your Brand, where you can view the status of existing campaigns and create new ones.

Standard Procedure and Guidelines for 10DLC Registration

To ensure a smooth and compliant 10DLC registration process, follow these standard procedures and guidelines:

• CTIA Guidelines: Refer to the CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices document for comprehensive industry standards and best practices.
• TCR Registration: Follow the guidelines provided by The Campaign Registry (TCR) for the registration of Brands and campaigns, ensuring alignment with industry requirements.
• Customer Information Collection: The SMS-Magic portal collects essential information from Customers for both brand registration and campaigns. This information undergoes expert review before submission to TCR.
• USE CASE Selection: Select the appropriate USE CASE type based on your campaign’s specific needs from the available 9 options. These include 2FA, Account Notification, Customer Care, Delivery Notification, Fraud Alert Messaging, Marketing, Polling and Voting, Public Service Announcements, and Security Alert. In cases where the campaign has low volume and requires a combination of use case types, select “Mixed.”
• Message Content Guidelines: Adhere to message content guidelines to ensure that your messages comply with regulations and industry standards.
• Opt-In and Opt-Out Mechanism: Implement a clear and effective Opt-In and Opt-Out mechanism on all messages to give recipients the choice to join or unsubscribe from your campaigns.
• Precise Number Mapping: Ensure accurate number mapping, associating each number with the corresponding campaign and designated use case. This ensures messages are sent specifically for their intended purpose.

By following these procedures and guidelines, you can streamline your 10DLC registration process and maintain compliance with industry standards, enhancing the success of your messaging campaigns.

Confirming Correct Configuration and Functionality

To ensure your 10DLC setup is working as intended, follow these steps:

• Send a Test Message: Initiate a test by sending an SMS message from your 10DLC number to a consenting recipient.
• Check for Delivery: Confirm successful message delivery without errors or delays.
• Receive a Response: Have the recipient send a reply to test bidirectional messaging.
• Confirm Receipt: Ensure you receive the reply, indicating proper configuration and operational status.

Successful completion of this test confirms your 10DLC setup is correctly configured and fully operational for your messaging campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions About 10DLC Registration

Who Needs to Comply with 10DLC Regulations?

10DLC regulations apply to any business that utilizes applications, such as SMS-Magic, for sending SMS messages over 10-digit long codes within the United States. This includes a wide range of organizations, from small businesses to large enterprises, engaging in SMS marketing, notifications, or customer service communications.

What Information Is Necessary for Registration?

• For Brand Registration: You are required to provide comprehensive business details, including your business name, physical address, and the type of business entity (e.g., LLC, partnership).
• For Campaign Registration: Detailed information about the campaign’s use case is needed. This includes sample messages, procedures for opting in and out, and how users can access help and support.

What Are the Consequences of Not Registering for 10DLC?

Unregistered organizations face significant communication disruptions, as their SMS messages may be filtered or outright rejected by mobile carriers. This results in messages failing to reach their intended recipients, undermining the effectiveness of SMS marketing or communication strategies due to the lack of a verified sender status.

How Long Does Each Registration Process Take?

• Brand Verification: Typically completed within 24 hours.
• Campaign Verification: Takes up to 4 days for review and approval.
• Number Linking: The process of linking numbers to your approved campaign is usually completed within 24 hours.

These timeframes are approximate and subject to change based on the specifics of each case and the volume of requests being processed. It’s important to plan your registration and campaign launches with these timelines in mind to ensure smooth and compliant messaging activities.