What is A2P 10DLC? What Are the Available Types of Campaigns and Use Cases?

What is A2P?

Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging refers to SMS or MMS messages sent from an application directly to a person. These messages are typically used by businesses or services to communicate with their customers for marketing, notifications, or transactional purposes. For instance, when a business uses Calilio or another messaging platform to send automated texts such as appointment reminders, order updates, or verification codes, it's classified as A2P communication.

In contrast, when a person sends a message directly to another individual, it’s known as Person-to-Person (P2P) messaging.

What is 10DLC?

10DLC stands for "10 Digit Long Code," a type of local phone number used in the United States. These numbers contain 10 digits and are designed for both P2P and A2P communications. When purchasing a US phone number from Calilio, for example, a 10DLC number is often marked as "Local" under the number type. These numbers provide a local touch to communications and are an alternative to toll-free numbers and short codes.

Why Was A2P 10DLC Introduced?

Originally, 10DLC numbers were designed for personal, P2P communication and were largely unregulated. Over time, however, spammers began exploiting these routes for unsolicited messages, leading to a growing mistrust among users regarding SMS-based communication.

To counteract the rise in spam and unsolicited messages, US carriers introduced A2P 10DLC. This regulatory framework aims to restore trust in SMS by ensuring that businesses use proper registration processes, improving transparency for end-users. A2P 10DLC allows consumers to know who's messaging them, opt in and out of communications, and experience a more secure messaging environment.

Types of Campaigns and Use Cases for A2P 10DLC with Calilio

When using Calilio services for A2P (Application-to-Person) 10DLC messaging, there are several campaign types available to suit different business needs. Here’s a breakdown of the available campaign types and their specific use cases:

1. Standard Campaign

This is the typical campaign setup for businesses that need to send a higher volume of messages and want to register as a standard brand. It’s suitable for businesses with robust messaging needs, such as notifications, customer support, and marketing.

2. Low-Volume Mixed Campaign

This campaign type is for businesses or organizations with relatively low messaging volumes, who still need to send both promotional and transactional messages. It’s ideal for small businesses or nonprofits that send occasional updates, confirmations, or other communications to their audience.

3. Sole Proprietor Campaign

Sole proprietorships in the US and Canada that don’t have an EIN (Employer Identification Number) or a Canadian Business Number must register as a Sole Proprietor Brand. This type of campaign is designed specifically for independent entrepreneurs or small-scale businesses sending messages to their customers via A2P 10DLC routes.

Sole Proprietor Campaigns

Eligibility

• Who qualifies: Sole proprietors in the US or Canada must register for A2P 10DLC as a "Sole Proprietor Brand," unless they have an EIN or Canadian Business Number.
• Exceptions: If a sole proprietor has an EIN or other tax ID, they must register as a Low-Volume or Standard Brand. Registering incorrectly as a Sole Proprietor can incur additional fees and limit their ability to send A2P messages effectively.
• Information Required for Registration

To register a Sole Proprietor Brand, the following details are required:

• Brand Name: Typically, this is the first and last name of the sole proprietor.
• First and Last Name: The legal representative's first and last name.
• Mobile Phone Number: Used for one-time passcode verification.
• Email: The representative's email.
• Customer Name: The name of the business (can be the sole proprietor’s name).
• Street Address: The business address, including street, city, state/province, postal/ZIP code, and ISO country code.
• Vertical (Optional): Industry category of the business.

Standard and Low-Volume Brands

If a business is not classified as a sole proprietorship, they must register either as a Standard Brand or Low-Volume Brand. Here’s what’s required:

Standard and Low-Volume Brand Information

• Business Name: The legal business name.
• Business Type: The legal structure (LLC, Corporation, etc.).
• Business Industry: The industry the business operates in.
• Business Registration Identifier: Country-specific tax ID.
• Social Media Profile URLs: Links to social profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
• Website URL: The business website URL.
• Regions of Operation: The geographical regions where the business operates.
• Representative Information: The first and last name, title, job position, phone number, and email of the authorized representative.
• Business Address: The mailing address, including street, city, region, postal code, and ISO country code.
• Company Type: Whether the business is public or private.
• Brand Contact Email: An email address for two-factor authentication during registration.
• Low-Volume Standard Brand Use Cases
• For businesses that need to send fewer messages but still maintain the flexibility of using mixed message types (e.g., promotional and transactional messages).
• 527 political organizations or businesses requiring Campaign Verify tokens may also fall under this category.

Comparison table - Sole Proprietor vs. Standard A2P 10DLC registration

Updated on: 31/12/2024