SMS + Web app: Providers of SMS "Long codes" for use by U.S. carrier subscribers within U.S.?

Question

Q.: How to get a cellular phone SMS "Long code" for use by U.S. carrier subscribers within U.S.?

Background: I'm building a web app that receives queries from/sends answers to cell phones. The app design (and business model) expects to communicate with cell devices via SMS, addressing the web app via an SMS "Long code" (VMN or MSISDN). The mobile phone subscribers will be sending/receiving within the U.S. and using U.S. carriers. Long codes are not available within the U.S. cellular services.

Answer 1

This is not an easy task. First, you'll need to get a code. Then you have to negotiate with all the carriers to get them to recognize it.

Or you can use someone like Cell It (http://www.cellitmarketing.com/) which has handled all of these things and acts as an intermediary for you.

I have no relationship with them but we are exploring doing something similar and the expertise of negotiating with all of the carriers has us looking for someone to work with who does that.

Answer 2

A 'long code' is just a normal phone number (full MSISDN in e.164 format) You can get one by purchasing a SIM card (in the case of GSM -- you have to get the whole phone in CDMA today as they don't use SIM like identity modules yet). Once you have that you can get a GSM modem and use standard COM programming for the modem to send and receive SMS messages. Last I looked the cheapest carrier for this in the US was T-Mobile with an unlimited messaging plan.

As Barry pointed out you are not supposed to use this method for commercial purposes, but my experience working at an SMS aggregator was that a lot of people are doing it this way. Check the fine print in the contract to make sure you know what 'unlimited' really means, also be mindful that the speed of a GSM modem is not so good for large scale operations. For large commercial applications you may need to look at connecting to an aggregator. But then you have to negotiate the solution with the aggregator and operator so you might not be able to use a long code.

Answer 3

Group Texting is a new long code service (http://grouptexting.com). Unlike Twilio there are no charges for incoming messages and no 1 sms/second rules!