Brand Registration for A2P SMS

DialedIn is required by Mobile Number Operators (MNOs) to register the brand for your call center campaigns that use SMS, hence DialedIn requires you to provide the necessary information to fulfill this requirement in advance of your DialedIn campaign operational activation.

This is done through The Campaign Registry (TCR), a unified platform that MNOs came up with to manage 10-digit long code phone numbers (10DLC) for application-to-person messages, in order to comply with new regulations around robocalls and spam messages.

10 Digit Long Code (10DLC) is the new standard for text messaging sanctioned by the mobile operators for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging.

TCR supports an A2P 10DLC text messaging Campaign ecosystem and provides visibility into the messaging source and content, allowing mobile carriers to provide a more reliable and simple messaging service for Campaign Service Providers (CSPs) and Brands.

BRAND is the company or entity the end USER believes to be sending the message. A CSP works with multiple Brands to create and launch SMS messaging Campaigns. A DCA (Direct Connect Aggregator) is a company that has a direct connection to an MNO Gateway and transmits messages on behalf of its customers. An MNO is the mobile operator who provides connectivity to end users. With this framework, the Brand messages end users via a high quality, sanctioned process.

Request Brand Registration

Before you can activate an SMS campaign, you must register your Brand with TCR, and that is done by providing DialedIn the necessary information so the registration can be requested on your behalf.

To successfully complete the registration, you must provide to DialedIn the required information below, in full, along with an explanation of how the SMS service will be used.

At the time of publishing this article, DialedIn expects your registration request to be submitted via a support ticket (preferred), or an e-mail to support@getdialedin.com. You must include the information below in a well-structured format, at a minimum.

Notice that there are three possible brand options: PRIVATE COMPANY, PUBLIC COMPANY, CHARITY / NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION. Your request should match one of those three.

WHEN REGISTERING A PRIVATE COMPANY WHEN REGISTERING A PUBLIC COMPANY WHEN REGISTERING A CHARITY / NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Note that Company Name and Brand Name do not have to be the same, though.


Important

Tax ID number is used in conjunction with the company’s name, address, and other information for TCR to perform a background investigation on the correct company.

If you are a US company or a foreign company with a US IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN):

  • It is crucial that the EIN matches the legal company name of the Brand you are registering for it to be correctly verified. Ensure that your legal company name is consistent with your IRS registration and is properly spelled.
  • The address should also be the same as that used in registering with the IRS.

If your primary business registration is in Canada:

  • Use your Canadian Corporation Number, which may be federal or provincial. For these cases, do NOT use your business number or federal tax ID number.
  • Ensure that your legal company name is consistent with your corporation registration and is properly spelled.
  • The address you enter should be the same as that used in registering with Corporations Canada.

If Europe, Eastern Europe, North Atlantic, Middle East, South America, and APAC:

  • Use the numeric portion of your VAT ID number.
  • If automated VAT identification matching is not implemented for your country (consult TCR, if in doubt), use the primary corporation registration number or tax ID number for your country.

SMS Brand Registration FAQ

1 Tax ID Validation
  • Ensure tax ID/EIN matches legal company name and business type for verification
  • TCR's automated system requires an exact match
2 Registering a Brand, not an Agency
  • Accurately register the brand mentioned in messages (e.g., “Solar City” should be registered as “Solar City”, not “Solar Advertising”)
3 EIN exclusivity
  • EIN is exclusive to this brand and cannot be used to register multiple brands
  • If you believe you have an exception, contact DialedIn Support
4 No EIN?
  • A Brand cannot be submitted
5 Additional Vetting requirements for for-profit/publicly traded companies
  • This is an additional vetting step that can be done for the brand to have the ability to send more daily messages
  • Provide a related email address that will trigger an email request from TCR for authentication
  • Email must share the same domain as the brand (e.g., “info@brand.com”, not “sales@brand2.com” or personal/free email addresses)
  • Brand contact has up to 7 days to respond; if not validated within 30 days, entire brand will need to be resubmitted
6 Brands will get billed regardless of the status
  • You will be billed even if the brand remains unverified
  • If brand information needs to be resubmitted, each submission is billed
7 You must notify your DialedIn Sales Exec
  • This is to trigger DialedIn approval process to proceed

Important Notes

  • The support phone number and support email submitted WILL be used when responding to customer HELP messages.
  • Brands are reviewed by TCR's automated system, so you can expect status updates within minutes.
  • Unverified Status — If your Brand is marked as ‘unverified’, ensure your company information is an EXACT match with your EIN before resubmitting. If necessary, make edits to your Brand information and resubmit; the system will automatically re-review your submission.
  • Additional Vetting is being rolled out in stages, and only publicly traded companies are required to provide an email address. Other segments will be added over time.
  • If you're at a publicly traded company and your brand is already registered, your existing campaigns will continue to be sent. However, if you wish to create a new campaign, you will need to submit an email address and go through the authentication process.

SMS Campaign Registration FAQ


Prohibited SMS Campaign Content

The following are forbidden use cases. Any message content that falls into one of the following categories is prohibited and can lead to suspension by the Mobile Network Operators (MNO's) and possibly legal action by the FCC.

SHAFT Content:

S Sex (Pornography, human/sex trafficking, prostitution)
H Hate (including but not limited to abuse, discrimination, violence, harassment)
A Alcohol
F Firearms (including ammunition)
T Tobacco (including Vaping, Cannabis, & CBD products)

Additionally, these categories are also prohibited by the mobile carriers:

  • All personal loans (especially “Pay Day” loans)
  • 3rd-party mortgage lending
  • 3rd-party insurance
  • Loan/Debt Consolidation
  • Debt Forgiveness
  • Debt Collection
  • Credit Repair
  • Tax Refund Loans
  • Gambling/Casino
  • Multi-level Marketing/Pyramid Schemes
  • Malware, viruses, or other malicious content
  • Camp Lejuene toxic water class action.

Call-To-Action (CTA)

  • A detailed and Complete Call-To-Action is required: you should explain when, where, and how opt-ins are being collected.
  • Your opt-in process should be clearly demonstrated with examples.

If consent is gathered from a website:

  • Website Validation — Ensure you have a live, valid, and secure (valid SSL certificate) company website that matches the name of the Brand. You'll need to include your URL and the DCA will check it.
  • Your privacy policy and terms & conditions must be on your website, clearly labeled, and easy to find from the home page (regardless of whether you collect opt-ins directly on the site). They must be accurate, up to date, and contain full details about your messaging program. You must include the direct URLs in your campaign submission to TCR in the URL boxes provided.
  • Privacy Policy — Cannot include any language about sharing, renting, or selling personal information, including phone number, with any third party or affiliate, without this disclosure: “All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.” The privacy policy must include a mobile sharing section that explicitly states you do not share data with third-party services.
  • Terms & Conditions / Terms of Service — The following SMS program disclosures must be included:
    • Program (brand) name
    • Message frequency disclosure (not required for single message programs)
    • Product description
    • Customer care contact information
    • Opt-out information (not required for single message programs)
    • “Message and data rates may apply” disclosure
    • The types of messages consumers can expect to receive, texting cadence, message and data rate notices, any associated costs, privacy policy, opt-out instructions and other terms of use.
  • Messaging consent forms must stand alone. They should either link directly to complete privacy policy and terms & conditions pages, or include the information directly. The form can be a pop-up page, as long as you document this in your campaign submission. Pop-up pages for terms & conditions are not acceptable.
  • Consent to receive messaging campaigns should be titled as such, and not tied to consent for any other type of communications such as email, phone calls, etc.
    • Required phone numbers are generally not acceptable as they're considered “forced opt-ins.” If a form requires a phone number, it cannot be used for opt-ins unless there is a checkbox for optional SMS opt-in.
    • If the phone number is optional and the opt-in language is exclusively for texting, a separate SMS opt-in checkbox is not currently required but is strongly encouraged.
  • Consent must be obtained for each use case.
  • The page(s) must also include:
    • Message & data rate disclosures: “Messaging and data rates may apply.”
    • Message frequency disclosures.
    • HELP and STOP; full opt-out information may be in the terms & conditions. Example: “By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart reminders) from [company name] at the number provided, including messages sent by auto dialer. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). Privacy Policy [link] & Terms [link].”
  • Multiple Opt-In Pages:
    • If multiple pages collect phone numbers, each one must have all the necessary opt-in language.
    • You need to include the URL of all opt-in pages with your campaign submission.

If consent is not gathered on a website:

  • You must include evidence (screenshots, files, or forms) of the opt-in process in the multimedia section where possible.
  • You must thoroughly explain the opt-in process in the “Call-To-Action” section of the campaign submission, include links to the Privacy and Terms & Conditions pages (if not already provided), and explain how these are shared with each person who opts in. These include:
    • Brand Name
    • HELP keyword
    • STOP keyword
    • Message frequency
    • Message & data rate disclosures: “Messaging and data rates may apply.”
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy Policy.

Example CTA of consent gathered outside of a website:

1

After Hours Urgent Care will be collecting opt-ins verbally from patients. Patients will be able to opt-in to receiving messages either in person at their physical location, or over a phone call if the customer calls to request an appointment.

When a new patient is registered for the first time, they are asked to provide their phone number and staff are trained to ask if the customer would like to opt in to SMS-based billing notifications. They will be verbally informed that “message and data rates may apply” and that “message frequency varies.” They are also informed that they can text HELP for support instructions and more information, or STOP to unsubscribe.

Staff also inform the customer that they will not share their phone number with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

The first message sent to a customer will inform them that they can text STOP at any time to unsubscribe, with the following text: “AFTER HOURS URGENT CARE: You've subscribed to receive billing notifications from After Hours Urgent Care. Text HELP for support instructions or STOP to unsubscribe. Message frequency varies.”

2

Customer calls in to sign up for health insurance.

While the customer is on the phone with the customer service agent “Would you like receive account alert messages from [BRAND] via text? If so, please provide your mobile phone number to opt in. Message frequency will vary by account and preference. Message and Data rates may apply. To opt-out text STOP or HELP for more information. For Terms and privacy visit our website [URLS]”

NOTE: Our portal has been set to hardcode the required verbiage on the Opt-in, Opt-Out and HELP messages. The verbiage on those is as follows:

Opt-in verbiage

You're now subscribed to messages from [BRAND]. For help, reply with HELP. Opt-out at any time by responding with STOP. Message frequency may vary. Message and Data rates may apply.

HELP verbiage

You're currently subscribed to messages from [BRAND]. Call [BRAND_SUPPORT_PHONE] or email [BRAND_SUPPORT_EMAIL] for support. To opt-out, reply STOP. Message and Data rates may apply.

Opt-Out verbiage

You have been unsubscribed and will no longer receive messages from [BRAND]. To receive messages again, reply START. Message and Data rates may apply.

DIDs for SMS Campaign Assignment

  • A maximum of 49 DIDs are allowed to be assigned to a campaign. Additional costs are associated with more than 49, and you would need to discuss it with your DialedIn Sales representative, as well as coordinate with Support.

HIYA Vetting & Number Registration

DialedIn provides you with top call center features and capabilities, which includes tools for you to manage your compliance with regulations, as well as minimize the possibility of your numbers getting flagged. However, there are certain things that only you can do, and there is one that we strongly recommend to you: HIYA Vetting & Number Registration.

Contact Hiya and visit their website to create your account, get vetted, and register your numbers. The following link may be of help: Hiya Registration.

Registration is free and includes a self-service console to easily register numbers and retire those you no longer use, as well as see the registration status of all your numbers at any time.

Hiya is a company that provides spam and fraud call protection and identity services to end-users. The Hiya end-user app identifies and blocks unwanted calls, displaying caller ID name and call reason on incoming calls. Therefore, it is important to be vetted and your numbers registered with them, so your call center operations stay effective.

With Hiya Registration, businesses are validated and registered on the Hiya Network. Carriers use spam protection systems to identify and label spam calls for their customers. These systems vary by carrier and rely on data modeling and AI. Businesses that register their numbers are vetted and recognized as legitimate callers, providing more information to spam protection systems to assess calls with the highest accuracy.

Vetting is a prerequisite to phone number registration. To register phone numbers, a business must first go through the vetting process to ensure they are a legitimate caller. By registering your numbers, you’re vetted and recognized as a legitimate caller, ensuring that your calls are delivered without spam labeling. Do keep in mind that if a business is registered and is still getting flagged as spam, usually means their calls are not following consumer preferences and laws, and other calling practices may need to be addressed.

Additional Registrations

Hiya is one of several analytical engines that handle branded calling and help you avoid your legitimate calls being blocked or mislabeled. But there are additional registration steps that you should consider in order to improve your brand. See the following.

Transaction Network Services (TNS) Call Guardian

TNS is a global provider of data communications and interoperability solutions. Their global network enable transactions and the exchange of information to many of the world's leading retailers, banks, payment processors, financial institutions and telecommunication firms.

Visit TNS' Robocall Feedback Website to provide feedback about a number.


Verizon Voice Spam Feedback

Verizon claims to use feedback to improve its robocalling protection services. Your feedback is shared with Verizon's third party spam analytics provider. By filling out that form, you should expect the relevant calls will no longer be blocked or labeled.

Visit Verizon voice spam feedback page to provide feedback about calls to Verizon phone numbers that are being incorrectly categorized, labeled or blocked.


Free Caller Registry

The Free Caller Registry is a partnership between First Orion, Hiya, and Transaction Network Services ("Analytics Engines") to streamline the telephone number registration process. Their free portal helps entities reach these Analytics Engines that support major wireless and wireline carriers in the US.

The website is intended for submissions made in good faith based on a reasonable belief that mislabeling or blocking is occurring.

Visit the Free Caller Registry website to submit the corresponding Registrant Data.


First Orion

First Orion is a Branded Calling Platform that helps businesses deliver seamless, secure branded calling across every network and device with the intention to improve business reputation and customer experience.

Visit the First Orion portal to register as a trusted business entity.