Sender IDs and Short Codes

In live, you send from your own Sender ID or Short Code. You request each one in the app, and it can be used once it's approved. In the sandbox, every team shares PSandbox and 1234 instead.

You need your team's compliance review approved, the app in Live mode, and a role that can make requests: Owner, Admin, or a custom role with Manage Requests.

Request a Sender ID

A Sender ID is the name customers see, such as ACME. It only sends: customers can't reply to it.

1. Open SMS › Sender IDs and choose Request Sender ID.
2. Enter the Sender ID.
3. Under Use Case, say what kind of messages you'll send from it.
4. Under Example Message, give one message you'll send.
5. Agree to the acceptable use policy, and send the request.

The rules:

• Up to 11 letters and digits, with at least one letter. ACME and ACME24 work. 2424 doesn't: a number on its own is a Short Code.
• No spaces or punctuation.
• It must be free: two teams can't have the same Sender ID.

Ponitor and the networks review it. We email you when it's approved or rejected. Your team webhooks get sender_id.approved or sender_id.rejected. A rejected request says why, and you can change it and send it again.

Request a Short Code

A Short Code is a number customers can text back, such as 4455.

1. Open SMS › Short Codes and choose Request Short Code.
2. Enter up to three codes, and choose how it's billed: Standard, Reverse Billing or Premium. If you're not sure, choose Standard, or ask us.
3. Under Use Case, say what each code is for, in at least 10 characters.
4. Give an Example Message, agree to the acceptable use policy, and send the request.

A Short Code takes longer than a Sender ID, because the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) authorizes it:

1. You request it. Pick the code and say what it's for.
2. We review it. Once we approve it, we submit it to the LTA.
3. The LTA authorizes it. It reviews the code and issues its authorization.
4. It goes live. We set it up on Orange and MTN, and your customers can use it.

We email you at each decision, and your team webhooks get sender_id.approved or sender_id.rejected. Once it's live, set up replies.

USSD codes

A USSD code, such as *144#, goes through the same steps as a Short Code. Request it under USSD › Codes. See How USSD works.

In the sandbox

Requests aren't made in the sandbox. A Sender ID or Short Code request made there returns 409 Conflict. Send from PSandbox and 1234 instead. See The sandbox.