Verification simply put is new processes implemented by the major carriers and relevant governing bodies / partners to vet businesses sending text messages to consumers in the US. This is done to help combat SPAM and more easily catch bad actors.
Table of contents:
What is A2P?
A2P stands for application-to-person texting. It basically means you’re using an SMS provider, like Mobiz, to send and receive messages. A2P used to only be applied to automated messaging, but now it’s becoming closer to person-to-person conversations as more customers respond to business text messages with questions or comments using 10DLC. That leads us to why carriers like AT&T and T-mobile are stepping in to document those use cases.
What is Toll-free Verification?
Effective as of May 15th 2022, all newly purchased US/Canada Toll-Free numbers will require verification for messaging compliance in order to use SMS platforms/providers.
US/Canada Toll-Free numbers purchased or obtained prior to May 15th 2022 will have until September 30th 2022 for verification. If verification documentation is rejected, outgoing SMS traffic may be blocked for the unregistered Toll-Free number. While submitted verification is pending, outbound SMS traffic will be open.
The toll-free verification process qualifies the messaging traffic to be tagged as verified with our downstream peers (not directly with mobile operators). The approved tag reduces the number of false-positive blocks and helps increase the message deliverability on a single toll-free number (TFN).
What is 10DLC verification?
Effective April 1, 2021 all newly purchased 10DLC numbers will require verification messaging compliance in order to use SMS platforms/providers. 10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code, and it is a local, long-code phone number that has been approved by mobile network operators for A2P (Application-to-Person) SMS messaging. In order for a 10DLC number to be approved, the local long-code number must undergo a verification process with a verified 10DLC brand and an approved 10DLC campaign.
Approved 10DLC numbers are a great option for organizations wanting to send text messages to their customers due to their ability to support moderately large volumes of messages. Plus, mobile network operators in the United States are currently implementing requirements that all A2P messaging on their networks must use 10DLC-approved numbers.
Is it possible to avoid message filtering on toll-free or local numbers?
Verification is not whitelisting, so approval doesn’t guarantee that the customer won’t experience any blocking. However, as long as the sent traffic aligns with the verification application, this allows us to work with our peers more swiftly in order to share the campaign details with the mobile operator and ask for the blocking to be removed.
What to do if verification is rejected
If your documentation is rejected, we will contact you directly and provide guidance on what else needs to be done to complete the verification process. You can contact us at support@mobiz.co for any additional inquiries.
For more information or questions about Toll-free or 10DLC verification reach out to us on our live chat.