A short code is a 4- to 6-digit number leased from carriers in one country for high-volume application messaging, with a registration process and a monthly cost.
Short codes are memorable numbers, dedicated to one brand or shared, that carriers provision for A2P traffic within a single country. They carry high throughput and are the traditional vehicle for keyword campaigns and voting. Getting one takes weeks of application, costs a monthly lease and works only inside that country.
For international senders they are rarely practical: one code per country, one process per carrier group, and no cross-border delivery. Alphanumeric senders and long numbers cover the same needs in most markets.
At SMSMeteor: short codes are not offered; alphanumeric senders are delivered as typed in 114 destinations and numeric senders are assigned where the country requires them.
Related terms
- Long number (virtual mobile number)
- Alphanumeric sender ID
- Toll-free SMS (United States and Canada)
- 10DLC