Choosing the Right Phone Number
To get started with TxtSquad you will need to choose the phone number you would like to send messages. We offer three types of phone numbers pending on your need.
The three types we offer are:
- Local Area Code
- Verified Toll-Free
- Short Code
Local Area Code
This is the default option for TxtSquad. You are able to choose a standard 10 digit local number during your onboarding and start texting your audience right away. We also offer the ability to bring you own number to TxtSquad and use just the texting capabilities, leaving existing phone services untouched.
For US Companies
Local Area code numbers can be used for small and large audiences with a variety of use cases. If you are looking for a way to message a large group of people in a short amount of time, we recommend using either a verified toll free number or a short code.
To get started with a local area code number, we need to register your business so mobile carriers do not flag your messages as spam. This is a requirement with the new A2P 10DLC rules set by US mobile carriers.
To do this we need the following information:
Business Information
- Business Legal Name
- Tax ID (EIN)
- Business Type
- Industry
- Website
- Job Position
- Name, Email, Business Title, Phone Number
- Are you sending over 6,000 messages per day or do you need multiple numbers? (Low-Volume Standard registration)
Use Case
The mobile carriers will need to know how you intend to use your number to message your audience. You can choose from a list of standard use cases or provide a special use case that will not to be approved.
The standard use cases are:
| 2FA | Any authentication or account verification such as OTP |
| Account Notifications | Notifications about the status of an account or related to being a part of an account |
| Customer Care | Support, account management, and other avenues of customer interaction |
| Delivery Notifications | Information about the status of a delivery |
| Fraud Alert Messaging | Messaging about potential fraudulent activity such as spending alerts |
| Higher Education | Message campaigns from colleges, universities, and other education institutions |
| Marketing | Promotional content such as sales and limited-time offers |
| Mixed | A campaign that covers multiple use cases such as Customer Care and Delivery Notifications. Note - mixed campaigns are likely to have lower throughput and a higher cost per message. |
| Polling and voting | For conducting polling and voting, such as customer surveys. Not for political use. |
| Public Service Announcement | PSAs to raise audience awareness about a given topic |
| Security Alert | Notification of a compromised system (software or hardware related) |
For Canadian Companies
We recommend local area code numbers for smaller audiences with low texting volumes. Use cases like filling shifts with employees or order pickups for a restaurant, where daily messaging is under 250 outbound messages.
For larger audiences and sending broadcasts to an audience of 250 or more, we recommend a verified toll-free number.
Verified Toll-Free
Verified toll-free numbers give a higher message throughput of 3 sms segments per second vs the 1 sms segment per second given on local phone numbers. They are also able to send to both US and Canada where a short code is only able to send within their own country. For Canadian companies, verified toll-free numbers are the best option for sending messages because it greatly reduces the risk of spam due to the fact the number has been verified with carriers. For US companies, A2P 10DLC is able to give you the verified traffic on traditional 10 digit numbers.
All Toll-free messaging must be verified to avoid spam filtering and blocked messages.
To register for a toll-free number you will need to provide the following information: Business Information
- Business Name
- DBA or Brand Name if different from Legal name
- Website
- The use case for sending text messages
- Proof of Opt-in/Consent flow for how your audience will give permission to be contacted via SMS. This can be screenshots of a signup form etc.
- Sample Messages that you will be sending in broadcasts.
- Any Links that may be in the messages
- Will you be sending to Canada
- will the majority of messaging be to Canada
- estimated monthly sms volume
- Will messaging be for advertising or promoting a product?
- was Sms traffic previously on another messaging service if so what and what number
- will this number be published online
- are you a fortune 500 or 100 company
Short Codes
Short code numbers can only send sms within their own country and have no voice calling capabilities. They are however able to send messages to much larger audiences at 100 sms segments per second. If you are interested in a short code number, please contact our sales team.