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Short codes, or short numbers, are short digit-sequences—significantly shorter than telephone numbers—that are used to address messages in the Multimedia Messaging System (MMS) and short message service (SMS) systems of mobile network operators.[1] In addition to messaging, they may be used in abbreviated dialing.

Short codes are designed[citation needed] to be easier to read and remember than telephone numbers.[2] 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 (used by multiple providers or carriers). U.S. inter-operator numbers are called common short codes).[3]

Organisations often use short codes to encourage users to engage with services such as charity donations, mobile services, ordering ringtones, or television-program voting.[2] Messages sent to a short code can be billed at a higher rate than a standard SMS and can sometimes subscribe users to a recurring monthly services. These charges continue to appear on the user's mobile-phone bill until the user texts, for example, the word "STOP"- to cancel the subscription.[4]

Short codes and service identifiers (prefix)

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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 provide both a 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: football@72404

Regional differences

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Albania

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Short Codes are five digits in length and start with 5, also are known as short codes for value added service.

Australia

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Short codes are six or eight digits in length,[5] starting with the prefix "19" followed by an additional four or six digits.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

Bangladesh

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Codes are five digits in length. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issues and controls short codes in Bangladesh.

Belgium

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Codes are four digits in length.[6]

Botswana

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Codes are three digits in length.

Brazil

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Codes are five digits in length.[7]

Cambodia

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Short Codes are four digits in length and start with 1.

Canada

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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 (paid for by campaign), standard rate (user is responsible for standard carrier charges), and premium rate (varies, C$1-10). Canadian Short codes are governed by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.[8]

In February 2020, CWTA (Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association) announced that Rogers Wireless will no longer participate in general use mobile codes in the future. A common short code is a code that is shared by more than one brand for multiple or general uses.[9]

Chile

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Codes are three and four digits in length.

Czech Republic

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Messages sent to/from these short codes are known as Premium Rate SMS. Codes are seven digits in length for MO and five (not billed) or eight (billed) for MT direction, starting with nine, while two or three (depending on billing type=MO/MT) trailing digits express the price, e.g. SMS sent to 9090930 is billed for Kč30. Leading three digits are purpose type prefixes (908 for micro payments, 909 for adult content and 900 for everything else), 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 (operator dependent)

Denmark

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Codes are three or four digits in length.

Dominican Republic

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Codes are four or five digits in length.

Ethiopia

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Codes are four digits in length and start with 8, like 8xxx. Although the telecom sector in Ethiopia is controlled by the government, short code services are outsourced to the private sector. The short codes are used mostly for fundraising, lottery and polling.

European Union

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Common EU-wide codes start with 11. Examples include: 118xxx - directory services,[10] 116xxx - emergency helplines. This is in addition to the EU-wide emergency number 112.

Faroe islands

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Codes are four digits in length, beginning with "12" or "19".[11]

Finland

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Codes are five or more digits in length, usually five or six.

France

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Codes are five digits in length. Starting digits define the cost of the service.

Germany

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Codes are four or five digits in length.

Greece

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Codes are five digits in length.

Hong Kong

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Codes are four to eight digits in length, start with digits 501-509.[12] Emergency number is 992.[13]

Hungary

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Codes are four or five digits in length.

India

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There are many companies in the Indian market who rent keywords, on a monthly basis, whose characters, on a typical telephone 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 (some providers only support).

Indonesia

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Codes are four digits in length with Rp2000 premium price.

Republic of Ireland

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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.[14]

Italy

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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

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Codes are generally four to six digits in length, however short codes have no fixed length.

Latvia

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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

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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

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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

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Codes are four digits in length.

Nepal

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Codes are three to four digits in length. Dialing short codes are generally 3 digits, and reserved for public services. SMS shortcodes are used for a range of purposes, and are four digits.

The Netherlands

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Codes are four digits in length.[citation needed]

New Zealand

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Codes are three to four digits in length.

Nigeria

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Codes are four to five digits in length.

Norway

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Codes are four to five digits in length.

Pakistan

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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 (Pakistan Telecom Authority).

Panama

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Codes are four digits in length.

Poland

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Commercial codes are five digit long (1xxxx) 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.

The Philippines

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Codes are seven digits in length. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is a regulatory agency providing an environment that ensures reliable, affordable and viable infrastructure and services in information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to all.[15] 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

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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

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Codes are four digits in length.

Singapore

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Codes are five digits in length.

South Africa

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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 (a range will generally be 34000 to 34009) are assigned specific tariffs or end user prices (EUP). 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.[16][17] Due to high costs associated with short code rental many providers offer shared shortcodes, which greatly reduces costs.[18]

Spain

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Codes are four digits in length.

Sweden

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Codes are five digits in length.

Switzerland

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Codes are three to five digits in length (most popular codes are three digits long); codes starting with "6" are reserved for adult services.

Taiwan

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Codes are usually four digits in length, starting with digits "19".

Turkey

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Codes are four digits in length.

United Kingdom

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Codes are usually five, six or seven digits in length, mostly starting with 6, 7 or 8.[19] The range of codes may be expanded in time to use other leading digits such as 4. Shortcodes are often owned by holding companies[20] 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.

Codes starting 70 are used by charities.[21] Codes starting 72 are used by Society Lotteries.[21] Adult related mobile services must use codes starting 69 or 89. Mobile operators sometimes use proprietary codes (either with a different leading digit, or shorter in length) for operator-specific functions. Depending on the service offered, users may interact with service providers either by calling the number, or by sending and/or receiving a text or MMS message.

Calls to mobile shortcodes may be free, or may be charged per call or at a per minute rate. Where the number can be called from any mobile network, the same charge will apply from all networks.

Messages sent to mobile shortcodes may be charged at a "standard rate", or with an additional premium charge. Where messages incur a "standard rate" charge, this is set by the sender's mobile provider and varies by provider.

Messages received from shortcodes may be free or may incur a premium charge. Messages can be used to deliver additional content, or a URL link that opens the users web browser at a specific web page. For subscription services, the charges may recur on a daily, weekly, monthly or other basis. To stop a subscription based shortcode service text the word 'STOP' to the shortcode number.

The service provider must state the applicable charges alongside the number. Calls and messages to mobile shortcodes do not count towards inclusive allowances or bundles.

Where the benefit passed on to the service provider is more than 10p per call, per minute, or per message, Ofcom's Premium Rate Services Condition[22][23] defines it as being a Controlled Premium Rate Service (CPRS) and subject to the additional regulation detailed in The Regulation of Premium Rate Services Order 2024.[24]

Until 31 January 2025, these services were regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority.[25] From 1 February 2025, Ofcom regulates these services directly.[26][27] A number of key PSA staff had already been embedded within Ofcom for some time in preparation for this move.[28]

United States

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Standard, interoperable short codes in the U.S. are five or six digits long,[29] never start with 1, and only work in the U.S.[30] They are leased by the short code program's registry service provider iconectiv, under a deal with the Common Short Code Administration[31] and CTIA.[32] It costs twice as much to choose a specific code as it does to get one that is randomly assigned.[32] Some carriers assign a subset of their carrier-specific codes to third parties.[33]

"The Short Code Registry[34] maintains a single database of available, reserved and registered short codes. CTIA administers the Common Short Code program, and iconectiv[35] became the official U.S. Short Code Registry service provider in January, 2016. For more information, please see the Short Code Registry’s Best Practices[36] and the Short Code Monitoring Handbook."[37][38][39]

Texting "HELP" to a short code causes the short code service to return a message with terms and conditions, support information — consisting of either a toll-free phone number or email address at a minimum — and other information from the leaseholder of the short code.[40][41] A user can opt-out from receiving any further messages from a short code service by texting "STOP", "END", "QUIT", "CANCEL", or "UNSUBSCRIBE" to the short code; after doing so, one final message confirming the opt-out is sent.[42][37]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Short code

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Short codes, also known as short numbers, are abbreviated telephone numbers, typically consisting of 4 to 6 digits, that are significantly shorter than standard phone numbers. They are used worldwide to address messages in the and , enabling high-volume communication for various services. Commonly employed by businesses, organizations, and governments, short codes facilitate applications such as marketing campaigns, customer feedback, , emergency notifications, and interactive content like voting or quizzes. Their implementation, length, and regulations vary by country and region to ensure compliance with local standards and to prevent abuse.

Overview

Definition and Purpose

Short codes are short numeric sequences, typically consisting of 5 or 6 digits, that are significantly shorter than full numbers and serve as specialized addresses for Short Message Service (SMS) and (MMS) messages directed to automated services within mobile telecommunications networks. These codes enable efficient routing of messages from mobile devices to centralized systems operated by businesses or organizations, rather than subscribers. The core purpose of short codes is to support rapid and user-friendly interactions between consumers and automated services, such as voting in polls, making donations, receiving alerts, or engaging in promotions, by eliminating the need to input lengthy phone numbers. Their concise format enhances memorability, making them ideal for real-time prompts during television advertisements, radio broadcasts, or live events where quick responses are encouraged. This design facilitates high-volume, one-to-many communications while ensuring high message deliverability and open rates, often exceeding 90% within minutes. In contrast to full telephone numbers, which primarily support person-to-person voice calls and direct messaging, short codes are optimized for machine-to-person or application-to-person (A2P) interactions, allowing organizations to manage large-scale messaging campaigns without the required for connectivity. For example, a common instruction might direct users to "text YES to 12345" to confirm subscription to a service or participate in a contest, leveraging the code's simplicity for immediate engagement.

Common Applications

Short codes are widely utilized in marketing and promotional campaigns to engage users through opt-in subscriptions, contests, and loyalty programs. Businesses often prompt customers to text keywords such as "JOIN" or "DEALS" to a short code to receive updates, exclusive offers, or entry into sweepstakes, enabling rapid user acquisition and personalized communication at scale. For instance, a retail brand might advertise "Text SAVE to 12345 for 20% off," fostering direct interaction while complying with opt-in requirements. In premium services, short codes facilitate revenue-generating interactions like charity donations, digital content purchases, and audience voting in television shows. Users can donate by texting a keyword like "GIVE" to a short code, with the donation amount billed directly to their mobile account, as seen in campaigns by organizations such as the Mobile Giving Foundation using code 999. Similarly, viewers of reality TV programs like have historically texted votes to short codes such as 123456, where premium rates—often $0.99 to $2.99 per message—are passed on to participants to fund production or causes. or downloads also employ this model, charging users a one-time fee via carrier billing. Short codes support informational and transactional communications, including alerts, flight status updates, and two-factor (2FA) codes. Airlines and weather services use them to send real-time notifications, such as "Text FLIGHT to 55555 for updates," ensuring timely delivery to opted-in subscribers. For security, platforms like banks or apps dispatch one-time passwords (OTPs) via short codes for verification, leveraging their high throughput for reliable, low-latency delivery. Their application in and services is more restricted but includes opt-in systems for alerts like notifications in select regions, where users subscribe to receive critical updates from authorities. These systems prioritize rapid dissemination without user-initiated billing, focusing on public safety rather than commercial interaction. The for short codes revolves around carrier billing, distinguishing between standard and premium rates to generate fees for content providers. Standard short codes incur no additional user charges beyond typical messaging plans, suitable for informational alerts, while premium short codes enable higher billing—up to several dollars per message—shared between carriers and providers for services like donations or votes, creating a direct path. User interactions with short codes commonly involve standardized keywords for compliance and control, such as "START" or "JOIN" to opt-in, "STOP" to unsubscribe, and "HELP" to request information on terms. These commands ensure regulatory adherence, allowing users to manage subscriptions easily and providers to maintain consent-based engagement.

Technical Aspects

Functionality and Routing

Short Code functioned as an interpreted , abstracting computations from direct machine instructions on early computers like the and . Programs were written using symbolic mathematical expressions, which programmers manually converted into sequences of two-character codes representing variables, operators, and control structures. These codes were then grouped into units fitting the machine's word size, such as 12-byte words on the , before execution by an interpreter. The interpretation process involved sequential processing of the sequences by the interpreter, which translated each two-character into corresponding machine instructions for arithmetic operations, branching, or subroutine calls. For instance, was denoted by "07", division by "02", and parentheses by "03" and "04", allowing expressions like a = (b + c) / b * c to be encoded as "07Y10204X1Y1" followed by "0000X30309X1" in two word groups. Branching instructions enabled conditional , while library functions handled and other utilities, routing execution to predefined routines as needed. This interpretive "routing" of operations made programming more intuitive but resulted in execution speeds approximately 50 times slower than native due to the overhead of on-the-fly translation. Designed for stored-program computers, Short Code's functionality emphasized arithmetic computation and basic control, with no support for advanced data structures or direct memory addressing beyond variables. The 1952 revision for UNIVAC II by A. B. Tonik and J. R. Logan refined the code set and interpretation efficiency, improving usability for scientific calculations. Error handling was rudimentary, relying on manual of code sequences, as the interpreter provided limited diagnostics.

Types of Short Codes

Short Code's "codes" referred to the two-character mnemonics used to represent language elements, categorized by their role in expressions: operator codes, variable symbols, and structural markers. Operator codes included arithmetic functions like ("07"), ("08"), (juxtaposition or specific codes), and division ("02"), as well as relational operators for branching conditions. Variable symbols used letters (e.g., "X", "Y", "Z") for operands, while markers like "00" denoted assignment or termination, and "01" initiated expressions. These formed the core vocabulary, limited to about 50 predefined codes to fit the era's constraints. Control codes encompassed branching ("09" for conditional jumps) and subroutine calls, enabling program flow management. Unlike modern languages, there were no distinct "types" like dedicated vs. shared; all codes were part of a single interpretive system. The revision introduced minor expansions, such as additional library function codes for enhanced I/O, but maintained the two-character format for compatibility with hardware. This simplicity distinguished Short Code from later assemblers, prioritizing expressiveness over complexity in its pioneering design.

History

Early Development

Short codes for mobile messaging trace their origins to earlier abbreviated dialing systems in landline telephony, where short numeric sequences were used to access essential services without full telephone numbers. A prominent example is the emergency number 911, selected by in 1968 as a universal, easy-to-remember code for public safety calls across the , following the 1967 recommendation by the President's Commission on and for a single national emergency number. This approach prioritized rapid access and memorability, influencing later mobile numbering practices. In the mobile era, short codes evolved from (USSD) protocols within (GSM) networks, introduced by European telecom operators in the early 1990s. USSD enabled session-based interactions using short codes prefixed with asterisks and hashes (e.g., *#100# for balance checks), providing quick access to network services like configuration and information without full dialing. These codes were standardized in GSM specifications, such as ETSI GSM 09.02, laying groundwork for concise addressing in mobile environments. The late 1990s marked the emergence of short codes specifically for Short Message Service (), coinciding with the widespread proliferation of following its commercial debut in 1992. short codes, typically 5- or 6-digit numbers, were first introduced around 1999 to facilitate bulk messaging and premium-rate services in , allowing businesses to receive texts for interactions like subscriptions or purchases. This development built directly on standards defined in ETSI , which outlined message transfer protocols using short addressing for efficiency. Efforts to standardize short numbering gained momentum pre-2000 through international bodies, with the European Telecommunications Office (ETO) completing a key study on harmonizing short codes across in September 1998, commissioned by the and ECTRA. The report emphasized consistent short codes (up to 5 digits) for services including mobile access, operator assistance, and carrier selection, aligned with Recommendation for international numbering plans, to support cross-border liberalization and growing mobile usage. Adoption drivers included the demand for seamless user engagement in nascent digital services, such as information delivery and interactive precursors to mobile internet like WAP, amid rapid SMS growth in regions. Pioneering implementations occurred in the UK—site of the first SMS in 1992—and Scandinavia, where early launches (e.g., in 1991, in 1993) enabled pilots for -based contests, alerts, and info services via short codes. In , for instance, messaging services expanded significantly by late 1998, fueling premium applications.

Key Milestones and Adoption

In the early 2000s, short codes experienced widespread adoption in the United States following the launch of the Common Short Code registry by CTIA in 2003, which facilitated large-scale business messaging campaigns. This initiative was supported by CTIA's development of the short code platform to enable appropriate application-to-person (A2P) messaging, addressing the growing demand for marketing and customer engagement via . In , premium services utilizing short codes boomed between 2002 and 2008, driven by mobile operators offering value-added content like ringtones and games, which generated significant revenue through microtransactions. The CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices, first outlined in 2005, further propelled U.S. adoption by establishing voluntary guidelines for message content, opt-in consent, and carrier interoperability to prevent abuse and ensure reliable delivery. In 2016, administration of the Common Short Code registry transferred to , enhancing efficiency with streamlined registration and a one-month free lease discount for new campaigns to encourage broader business participation. Global standardization efforts in the included guidelines promoting consistent short code provisioning for international use, particularly in and cross-border services, to avoid duplication and ensure across networks. Short code usage in peaked during 2010-2020, coinciding with the rise of , as businesses leveraged them for promotions and alerts, with U.S. SMS volumes reaching a high of 2.4 trillion messages in 2011. Recent milestones include U.S. carrier announcements in 2024 updating the Short Code Registry with enhanced vetting fields and phasing out certain shared code practices to combat spam, requiring new data for registrants and clients starting October 15. RCS integration pilots emerged in 2023-2025, testing short code compatibility with rich media messaging for improved engagement, as operators transitioned from SMS amid growing adoption. In India, TRAI's 2025 revisions to the National Numbering Plan reallocated short codes primarily to government entities for essential services, optimizing spectrum and reducing overlaps from prior pan-India and state-level assignments. Adoption metrics highlight robust growth, with the U.S. SMS marketing market projected to reach $12.6 billion by 2025, fueled by high open rates and opt-in rates exceeding 84% among consumers. However, usage has declined in some regions due to app-based alternatives like and RCS, which offer richer features and have driven a surge in non-SMS messaging volumes. Early challenges involved spam issues in the , prompting opt-in rules under the TCPA, which the FCC clarified in 2003 to include text messages, requiring prior express consent for automated marketing texts to wireless numbers. CTIA reinforced these with short code-specific guidelines mandating clear opt-in processes and responses to keywords like STOP to honor consumer choices and mitigate abusive messaging.

Regulations and Standards

Short Code, developed in the late and early as one of the first high-level programming languages, was not subject to any formal regulations or international standards. At the time, electronic computing was in its experimental phase, with programming practices guided primarily by the hardware specifications of machines like the and , rather than oversight from standardization bodies, which did not emerge until later decades (e.g., the American National Standards Institute's involvement in computing standards beginning in the ).

Regional Differences

North America

In North America, short codes for messaging are primarily 5- or 6-digit numbers, with the and sharing similar frameworks influenced by carrier associations, while operates under distinct federal oversight. The region emphasizes high-throughput messaging for marketing and alerts, with increasing shifts toward alternatives like 10-digit long codes (10DLC) for application-to-person (A2P) communications. In the United States, short codes range from 5 to 6 digits and are administered through the Common Short Code (CSC) Registry, a centralized database managed by under CTIA (the wireless industry association) oversight. The CTIA ensures compliance with messaging standards, including opt-in requirements and content guidelines to prevent abuse. Premium messaging via short codes, which can charge users additional fees for services like contests or donations, has historically supported rates up to $3.99 per message, though many campaigns now use standard rates due to carrier preferences. Shared short codes, where multiple brands use the same number with keywords for differentiation, have been phased out by major carriers like , , and Verizon, with full transitions completed by late 2024 in favor of dedicated codes or 10DLC for better deliverability and reduced spam risks. Canada employs 5- or 6-digit short codes through the Canadian Common Short Code program, overseen by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) in partnership with carriers. These codes support similar functionalities to the U.S., including two-way messaging, but incorporate bilingual requirements in English and French for opt-out keywords such as STOP/ARRET and INFO/AIDE to accommodate the country's official languages. Premium billing is handled in Canadian dollars (CAD), with carriers like Rogers, Bell, and Telus facilitating revenue sharing for services like alerts and promotions. In , short codes are also 5- or 6-digit numbers regulated by the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), requiring pre-registration and approval from carriers for high-volume A2P use. Content is restricted to exclude political, religious, or adult material, with mandatory opt-in consent and prohibitions on unsolicited messaging to align with laws. Major carriers such as (), , and dominate distribution, often overwriting sender IDs with short codes for delivery. The and feature shorter 4- or 5-digit short codes, with limited premium services focused on basic alerts and opt-ins rather than extensive marketing. In the , these codes integrate with (NANP) systems sharing the +1 , enabling cross-border compatibility with U.S. carriers for and international messaging. supports short codes for two-way but restricts them to approved providers, with alphanumeric sender IDs often replaced by local short or long codes to ensure compliance. Regionally, short codes see high adoption in campaigns, with open rates exceeding 90% due to their memorability and trust factors. Post-2023, 10DLC has emerged as a cost-effective alternative to short codes for A2P traffic, requiring carrier registration but offering scalability without the higher leasing fees of dedicated short codes. The U.S. market, including short code usage, is projected to reach $12.6 billion by 2025, driven by and customer engagement growth at a 20.3% CAGR.

Europe

In the , short codes for services are largely harmonized to five digits, particularly for value-added services (VAS) such as premium-rate messaging, under the oversight of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). This standardization facilitates cross-border interoperability while allowing national regulators to adapt ranges for local needs. Additionally, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates strict consent mechanisms for processing via , including explicit opt-in for messages and easy opt-out options like replying "STOP," with non-compliance risking fines up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover. Premium-rate short codes are subject to national price controls to protect consumers, though BEREC promotes transparency through its VAS database to prevent abuse. In the United Kingdom, short codes typically range from five to six digits, such as those starting with 6, 7, or 8 (e.g., 65051 for voting services), and are used extensively for premium-rate services like charity donations and competitions. From February 1, 2025, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) assumed direct regulatory responsibility for these services under the Regulation of Premium Rate Services Order 2024, replacing the previous self-regulatory body and emphasizing consumer protection against unauthorized charges. Pre-Brexit, the UK saw high adoption of premium short codes aligned with EU norms, but post-Brexit adjustments have maintained similar structures while incorporating stricter anti-fraud measures. France, Germany, and Italy predominantly employ five-digit short codes for SMS, regulated by national authorities: the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) in , the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) in , and the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) in . These regulators enforce rigorous anti-spam policies, prohibiting unsolicited marketing messages without prior explicit consent and requiring clear disclosure of costs; for instance, ARCEP bans promotional SMS on Sundays and . BNetzA in mandates double opt-in for commercial traffic, while AGCOM in Italy aligns with rules to curb spam, fining violators up to €150,000. Variations exist across other European countries, often reflecting national numbering plans influenced by EU guidelines. The following table summarizes short code lengths for selected nations:
CountryShort Code LengthRegulator/Notes
4 digitsAligns with CEPT standards; limited premium use.
3-4 digitsAgency for Data Supply and Infrastructure (SDFI) oversight; focuses on transactional .
5 digitsHellenic Commission; GDPR-compliant opt-ins.
5 digitsNational Media and Infocommunications Authority; strict consent rules.
5 digitsCommission for Communications Regulation (ComReg); anti-spam filters mandatory.
5 digits; harmonized with EU VAS.
5 digitsCommunications Regulatory Authority; double opt-in for marketing.
5 digitsAuthority for Consumers and Markets; no unsolicited ads.
4-5 digitsNorwegian Communications Authority; EEA-aligned .
5 digitsOffice of Electronic Communications; premium rates capped nationally.
5 digitsNational Commission on Markets and Competition; BEREC-coordinated.
5 digitsSwedish Post and Telecom Authority; declining premium traffic.
5 digitsFederal Office of Communications; non-EU but similar opt-in requirements.
Recent trends in indicate a decline in premium short code usage, driven by the shift toward over-the-top messaging apps like and RCS, with total volumes dropping by approximately 60% across the region since 2015. Voice short codes, enabling calls to five-digit numbers for services like voting or donations, remain popular in the UK and Scandinavian countries such as and , where they offer an accessible alternative to full geographic numbers.

Asia

In , short code systems for messaging exhibit significant variation due to diverse regulatory frameworks, population densities, and technological adoption rates, ranging from mature markets with high-volume enterprise use to highly controlled environments prioritizing content oversight. employs 6-digit short codes for application-to-person (A2P) messaging, regulated by the (TRAI), which oversees allocation and compliance to prevent spam and ensure service reliability. In 2025, TRAI introduced revisions to the National Numbering Plan, enhancing Level 1 short codes for critical services like banking alerts and emergency notifications, enabling higher throughput for transactional messages amid 's massive mobile subscriber base exceeding 1.1 billion. These codes support high-volume applications, with over 50 billion A2P messages sent annually for one-time passwords (OTPs) and promotional alerts. South Korea utilizes 4- to 6-digit short codes for both one-way alerts and two-way interactive services, such as customer feedback and confirmations, under the oversight of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). The KCC mandates pre-registration of campaigns to enforce opt-in consent and content guidelines, facilitating widespread use in a market where remains integral to digital services despite rising app-based alternatives. In , short codes ranging from 4 to 6 digits require approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) for deployment, with mandatory registration of alphanumeric sender IDs to enhance traceability and reduce fraud. Messages are limited to a maximum of 70 characters to align with network efficiency standards, supporting applications like disaster alerts and retail promotions in a highly digitized society. China diverges notably by eschewing traditional short codes for A2P SMS, instead relying on special long codes prefixed with 106 for enterprise messaging, as mandated by the Ministry of Industry and (MIIT). Strict MIIT regulations require pre-approval of message templates to control content, prohibiting unverified promotional or sensitive , which has curtailed spam but limited flexibility for businesses. Several other Asian countries standardize 5-digit short codes for A2P services, including , , , , , the Philippines, Singapore, and , while and use 5- to 6-digit formats, and employs 5-digit codes, all generally requiring regulatory approval for allocation. Across the region, short code usage is growing for OTPs and two-factor authentication (2FA), driven by expansion, though China's template-based restrictions exemplify broader content control measures to mitigate misinformation and security risks.

Latin America and Caribbean

In , short code adoption for messaging has grown amid high mobile penetration rates exceeding 100% in many countries, driven by applications in entertainment, banking alerts, and , though varies and regulatory frameworks emphasize consumer consent and data protection. Regional carriers like Claro, , and oversee much of the deployment, with short codes typically ranging from 4 to 6 digits to facilitate quick access to services. Influenced by North American models, the region prioritizes two-way messaging for transactional uses while imposing restrictions on unsolicited promotions to align with local privacy laws. In , short codes consist of 5 digits and are regulated by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), which mandates express user consent for messaging and limits promotional sends to specific hours, such as 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. These codes support both transactional notifications and premium services, particularly in entertainment like contests and voting, with end users incurring no direct fees but carriers enabling for premium content. Anatel's oversight ensures compliance with the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), prohibiting spam and requiring opt-out mechanisms. Chile employs 4- to 5-digit short codes under the supervision of the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL), which regulates to promote fair competition and service quality. These codes enable two-way for marketing and alerts, with provisioning times of 8 to 12 weeks due to carrier approvals from operators like Entel and WOM. SUBTEL's guidelines support number portability and ban to landlines, focusing on high-volume campaigns while enforcing content restrictions to protect consumers from unsolicited messages. Colombia utilizes short codes for two-way messaging, overseen by the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC), which requires Colombian entities to request dedicated codes directly and mandates monthly volumes of at least 100,000 messages for approval. These 5- to 6-digit codes handle both marketing and transactional traffic, with sender IDs often converted to local short codes by carriers like Claro and Tigo to ensure delivery. The CRC emphasizes opt-in requirements and anti-spam measures, aligning with broader data protection standards. Mexico features 5- to 6-digit short codes limited to specific carriers like and , requiring a 3-month minimum term and express consent for high-throughput uses such as notifications and promotions. Regulated by the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), these codes prohibit political or religious content and support opt-out commands like "ayuda" for help. While integrated with North American systems, 's framework prioritizes carrier-specific compliance to combat fraud. Peru relies on 5-digit short codes, as seen with carriers like Claro and , which convert sender IDs to these formats for consistent delivery under the oversight of the Supervisory Agency for Private Investment in (OSIPTEL). These codes facilitate one-way alphanumeric messaging for alerts and two-way interactions, with regulations requiring adherence to user privacy and prohibiting excessive volumes to prevent . OSIPTEL enforces documentation for international senders to ensure transparency. In , short code usage remains limited, with carriers like and Digitel overwriting sender IDs to random short or long codes, restricting dedicated options and alphanumeric support except on Movilnet. The (Conatel) imposes strict controls, leading to inconsistent delivery for non-registered traffic and favoring transactional over promotional applications due to infrastructure challenges. Extending from North American influences, the supports short codes through carriers like Claro and Altice, where alphanumeric IDs are overwritten to short codes on some networks to guarantee delivery, enabling two-way services for alerts and opt-ins. Panama similarly limits two-way functionality to short codes, with providers like requiring registration for high-volume campaigns under the National Public Services Authority (ASEP). Across the , high mobile penetration—often over 120% in nations like and —has boosted short code applications for banking alerts, with institutions like CIBC FirstCaribbean and First Citizens using them for transaction notifications and fraud warnings via . These 5-digit codes integrate with apps, providing secure, real-time updates amid widespread adoption. Emerging trends in the region include short code integration as alternatives to dominant platforms like WhatsApp, particularly in Brazil and Colombia, where SMS serves as a fallback for low-data users in payment confirmations and alerts. From 2023 to 2025, regulatory efforts have intensified consumer protection, with carrier alliances in countries like Chile and Peru forming to standardize opt-out processes and combat phishing, as seen in Anatel's LGPD enforcement and CRC's volume thresholds.

Africa

In , short codes are typically five digits long and regulated by the Independent Communications Authority of (ICASA), which oversees their allocation for premium-rated services (PRS) such as airtime top-ups and content delivery. These codes enable businesses to send targeted for transactions, with ICASA ensuring compliance through licensing and measures against unauthorized charges. Nigeria employs five-digit short codes under the oversight of the (NCC), which issues guidelines for their operation to facilitate services like two-way messaging and premium content. These codes have seen extensive use in elections and voting, where they support real-time SMS-based participation and result dissemination, enhancing in a high-mobile-penetration environment. Across other African nations, short code formats vary slightly but emphasize accessibility for public services. In , five-digit short codes are allocated to wireless application service providers (WASPs) for interactions, including customer feedback and service alerts. Ethiopia utilizes 4- to 5-digit short codes for and notifications, often integrated with USSD for broader reach in rural areas. features five-digit short codes for dedicated business use, supporting promotional and transactional . Kenya's five-digit short codes, regulated by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), power essential services like mobile money transfers. also adopts five-digit formats for programs, with annual leasing costs reflecting their role in commerce. In , five-digit short codes are commonly used for alerts, such as two-factor and service notifications. A prominent trend in Africa involves the integration of short codes with platforms, exemplified by Kenya's , which leverages them for transaction confirmations, balance inquiries, and secure prompts via alongside USSD. This synergy supports in underserved regions, with short codes enabling quick, low-cost access to services like transfers. Additionally, short codes facilitate emergency alerts and communications, delivering timely government notifications during crises. SMS usage has grown rapidly from 2024 to 2025, driven by rising mobile penetration and demand for authentication and loyalty programs, projecting further expansion in digital payments across the continent. Despite these advancements, challenges persist due to inconsistent in some areas, leading to vulnerabilities like SMS-based fraud in and premium services. Weak enforcement allows unauthorized subscriptions and scams, particularly in cross-border transactions, underscoring the need for harmonized anti-fraud measures aligned with international anti-spam guidelines.

Oceania and Other Regions

In Oceania, short code implementations emphasize consumer protection and integration with regional mobile networks, often aligning with broader standards for high-throughput messaging. Australia utilizes short codes for premium rate SMS services, typically 6- or 8-digit numbers prefixed with 190, regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to prevent misuse and ensure billing transparency. These codes support application-to-person (A2P) communications, including alerts and marketing, with recent 2025 updates mandating registration of sender IDs via the ACMA's SMS Sender ID Register to combat scams, effective from December 15. New Zealand employs dedicated short codes, generally 3- or 4-digits long, exclusively for A2P to facilitate two-way interactions while prohibiting long codes for such purposes. Oversight falls under the Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) and the Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF), which mandates registration to protect against fraudulent messaging. Options include standard rate and free-to-end-user variants, promoting low-cost services like notifications. In other regions, the features 5-digit short codes for premium and MMS, managed by the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) under the PR SMS Codex, with formats like 90zxy where z denotes service type and xy identifies the provider. These codes enable billed content delivery while adhering to EU-harmonized numbering for short services. The supports 5-digit short codes, such as 35001 or 34001, for inbound and outbound services, offering businesses flexible, memorable options for customer engagement without alphanumeric sender ID restrictions. Across and these areas, short code adoption shows low overall volume compared to denser markets but steady growth in niche uses like alerts via regional carriers in Pacific islands, where 2025 enhancements focus on compliance for international and opt-in messaging. This aligns briefly with global trends toward sender verification, enhancing reliability for isolated deployments.

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