A guide to registering for 10DLC

Just a friendly reminder that carriers have implemented 10DLC registration to enhance the security and reliability of messaging across the industry. As a result, any text messages sent from phone numbers that are not registered with a 10DLC campaign may be blocked or filtered by carriers. It's important to ensure that your phone number is properly registered to avoid any disruptions in your messaging campaigns.

Important Notes

Don't worry, registering for 10DLC in Shape is super easy! You can get started right away by heading over to the "Phone Settings" page. Please make sure to enter all the required information to avoid any delays in the registration process. We've got you covered!

  • Legal Company Name

    Make sure your company name matches the information on your business licensing forms.

  • EIN Number

    Double-check that the EIN number for your legal business name is correct.

  • Sample Messages

    Sample messages are required for 10DLC to ensure that businesses are sending legitimate messages and to prevent spam. The mobile carriers review these messages as part of the registration process to verify that they comply with industry regulations and are not unsolicited or fraudulent.

  • Description of SMS & MMS Use

    The description of how you will be using texting is required for 10DLC to provide clarity and transparency to the mobile carriers about the nature of your business and the types of messages you plan to send. This information is used to verify that your messaging use case (campaign) aligns with the appropriate regulations and guidelines set forth by the mobile carriers, and to ensure that your messaging practices are legitimate and compliant.

  • Website Opt-in Compliance

    Ensure your website includes a well-defined opt-in procedure to increase the chances of carrier approval. Submissions without a clear opt-in process, lacking a notice about potential text messages, and missing essential components like a Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Message Frequency details, and Message & Date Rates may be rejected by carriers.

For a comprehensive overview of 10DLC guidelines, click on the link below.

Advanced Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Shape is thrilled about the messaging opportunities presented by 10DLC! We believe that all users stand to benefit from these improvements. To help you make the most of these changes, here's what you need to know about 10DLC and how it can benefit your business.

In essence, 10DLC is the latest industry standard developed by US mobile carriers to enable businesses to communicate with customers through text messaging in a secure and efficient manner.

As businesses increasingly recognize the benefits of texting for customer communication, carriers are determined to curb spam communication and enhance the overall experience. Consequently, the landscape of business text messaging has undergone significant changes in recent years.

The introduction of 10DLC is a significant step towards enhancing business communication while safeguarding consumers’ interests.

If your business utilizes 10-digit numbers to send text messages, it is required to register your number with mobile carriers via The Campaign Registry or else your messages will be undelivered. As a Shape customer, we guide you through the entire process.

Registering your business texting number with The Campaign Registry offers several benefits, including:

  • Improved delivery rates of your messages
  • Faster message sending
  • Avoidance of spam filtering by carriers
  • Prevention of significant fees imposed by carriers
  • Establishment of trust with recipients who know they are receiving legitimate messages
  • Cost savings by avoiding reliance on a short code

All of these advantages enable you to engage in more conversations and establish stronger relationships with the individuals who are important to your business. Additionally, by registering, you save time and eliminate the need to worry about your messages getting lost among other spammy business messages.

To avoid low delivery rates and ensure that your 10-digit number continues to be effective, registration with The Campaign Registry and payment of the associated carrier fees is necessary as part of the 10DLC program. Failure to register and pay these fees may result in increased filtering of your messages and potential fines from each mobile carrier for improper usage.

However, if you prefer to forgo registration entirely and avoid the associated repercussions, there are other options available to you, such as using a toll-free numbers.

Toll-free numbers, such as those that begin with 1-800, offer high message volume limits and can be obtained quickly. However, they may lack the personal touch of a local 10-digit number, especially if you have a team of users with their own business texting numbers. In such cases, providing each user with their own toll-free number is not a practical solution. Currently, you are allowed only one toll-free number per system, as having multiple toll-free numbers is deemed as snowshoeing and is prohibited by law.

In summary, the industry-wide adoption of 10DLC has affected all business text messaging platforms and services, including Shape and similar companies. However, as independent software providers, our objective is to assist our users in complying with the new regulations to ensure their business text messaging endeavors are successful.

It is essential to note that each individual business is responsible for adhering to the compliance standards. Failure to do so or attempting to circumvent these regulations may result in significant fees and fines from each mobile carrier. For example, businesses can face fines of up to $10,000 per message sent from an unregistered 10-digit phone number.

At Shape, we are dedicated to registering all of our customers’ numbers and reducing the associated fees linked to the new standards. We firmly believe that these changes will create a better experience for both our users and the recipients of their messages.

Yes, there are costs associated with 10DLC. Mobile carriers charge fees for registering and sending messages through the 10DLC program. There is a setup fee and monthly fee for 10DLC registration.

Once you’ve completed the registration process, your brand and use case information will be submitted to the mobile carriers for verification.

The verification process typically takes 6-8 weeks, during which time you will not be able to send any text messages.

As a Shape customer, we will keep you updated on the progress of your verification status and notify you when the mobile carriers approve your chosen Shape phone number for sending text messages. This way, you can start communicating with your customers as soon as possible.

There are several reasons why a 10DLC campaign or brand may be rejected during the registration process. Some common reasons include:

  • Lack of proper documentation: You may be required to provide certain documentation, such as a business license or proof of identity, to verify your business and use case. If you fail to provide the necessary documentation or it does not meet the carrier’s requirements, your campaign or brand may be rejected.
  • Inappropriate or non-compliant messaging: The mobile carriers have strict guidelines for what types of messages are allowed to be sent using 10DLC. If your messages are deemed inappropriate or non-compliant, your campaign or brand may be rejected.
  • Previous history of spam or abuse: If your business has a history of sending spam or abusive messages, your campaign or brand may be rejected based on that history.
  • Updates needed to the opt in process on your website: Carriers frequently reject submissions that do not have a proper opt in process on the company website as well as lacking  a defined Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.