What is the Short Code Registry?
The Short Code Registry is a centralized database that maintains a list of available, reserved, and registered US short codes. The registry is managed by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), a wireless trade organization. The CTIA oversees the registry to ensure regulatory compliance and the efficient allocation of short codes for messaging campaigns across US wireless networks.
Who should get a short code?
Short codes are ideal for ecommerce brands with large subscriber lists running extensive SMS campaigns that regularly require high sending volumes.
When brands surpass 30,000 subscribers, they can start to face throughput issues and message delivery delays that can slow down campaigns. Short codes offer much higher sending rates than toll-free numbers or long codes.
Short codes can manage up to 1,44 million messages per hour as opposed to 36,000–90,000.
4 key benefits of using SMS short codes
- Faster message delivery: SMS messages sent via short codes can be delivered up to 10x faster than those sent using long codes, toll-free numbers, or branded sender IDs.
- Less filtering: Short codes come with a strict approval process. Because of this, mobile carriers filter messages from short codes a lot less frequently.
- Memorable for customers: Since all short codes are only 5 or 6 digits long, they’re easier for your customers to remember than long codes and toll-free numbers.
- Credibility: Your recipients can easily look up a short code in a directory, and people associate short code with brands that have been vetted by a third party.
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