How to request short codes through AWS Support
A short code is a number that you can use for high-volume SMS and MMS message sending. Short codes are often used for application-to-person (A2P) messaging, two-factor authentication (2FA), and marketing. A short code typically contains between three and seven digits, depending on the country that it's based in.
You can only use short codes to send messages to recipients in the same country where the short code is based. If your use case requires you to use short codes in more than one country, you must request a separate short code for each country that your recipients are located in.
For information about short code pricing, see AWS End User Messaging Pricing
Important considerations
Before you request a short code, consider the following information:
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If you plan to use the short code to send messages that contain Protected Health Information (PHI), you should identify this purpose in the Case description field of your support case.
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AWS End User Messaging SMS currently only supports standard short codes. Free-to-End-User (FTEU) short codes aren't supported.
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If you're new to SMS and MMS messaging with AWS End User Messaging SMS, you should request a monthly SMS and MMS spending threshold that meets the expected demands of your SMS and MMS use case. By default, your monthly spending threshold is $1.00 (USD). You can request to increase your spending threshold in the same support case that includes your request for a short code.
Step 1: Open a support case
The first step in requesting a short code is to open a Service Limit Increase case in the Support Center Console.
To request a short code
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Create an AWS Support case at https://support.console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/case/create?issueType=service-limit-increase
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Important
Some of the fields on this form are labelled "optional." However, you must provide all of the information listed above to begin the short code setup process.
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For Service, choose AWS End User Messaging SMS (Pinpoint).
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For Provide a link to the site or app which will be sending SMS messages - optional, provide information about the website, application, or service that will send SMS messages.
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For What type of messages do you plan to send - optional, choose the type of messages that you plan to send using your short code:
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One Time Password – Messages that provide passwords that your customers use to authenticate with your website or application.
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Promotional – Noncritical messages that promote your business or service, such as special offers or announcements.
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Transactional – Important informational messages that support customer transactions, such as order confirmations or account alerts. Transactional messages must not contain promotional or marketing content.
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For Which AWS Region will you be sending messages from - optional, choose the AWS Region that you will be sending messages from.
Note
A short code can only exist in one AWS Region. If you want to be able to use short codes in more than one AWS Region, you must request separate short codes for each Region.
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For Which countries do you plan to send messages to - optional, enter the country that you want to purchase short codes in.
Note
Each short code is specific to a single country. For example, you can't use a United States–based short code to send messages to recipients with Canadian phone numbers.
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In the How do your customers opt to receive messages from you - optional, provide details about your opt–in process.
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In the Please provide the message template that you plan to use to send messages to your customers - optional field, include the template that you will be using.
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In the Requests section, do the following:
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For the Region, choose the AWS Region that you plan to send messages from.
Note
The Region is required in the Requests section. Even if you provided this information in the Case details section you must also include it here.
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For Resource Type, choose Dedicated SMS Short Codes.
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For Quota, choose the message type that you plan to send using your short code.
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One Time Password/Two-Factor Authentication – Messages that provide passwords that your customers use to authenticate with your website or application.
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Promotional/Marketing – Noncritical messages that promote your business or service, such as special offers or announcements.
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Transactional – Important informational messages that support customer transactions, such as order confirmations or account alerts. Transactional messages must not contain promotional or marketing content.
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Transactional/Notifications/OTP/2FA – All message types.
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For New quota value, enter the number of short codes that you want to purchase for the target country and use case.
Note
If you want to request a short code for a different country, or for a separate use case in the same country, open a separate case in the Support Center Console. By creating separate cases, all communications for a particular country or use case are restricted to a single AWS Support case, which reduces the potential for miscommunications.
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Under Case description, for Use case description, provide details about your use case.
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Under Contact options, for Preferred contact language, choose whether you want to receive communications for this case in English or Japanese.
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When you finish, choose Submit.
AWS Support acknowledges your request within 24 hours of receipt. If we're able to provide
you with a short code, we provide you with a short code registration form as an
attachment to your AWS Support case. Complete the registration form in its entirety. The
information in this form is required in order to set up a short code with the mobile
carriers. For more information about completing this form, see Obtaining a short code for sending text messages to US recipients
There is no Service Level Agreement for the time required to obtain a short code. The amount of time required depends on whether or not your use case is compliant with the requirements of the carriers. If the carriers do not think that your use case is compliant, they will reject your application and provide information about the reasons for the rejection. If this happens, you will find this information in your AWS Support case. You can address the issues with your application in your AWS Support case. When you do, we send this updated information back to the carriers so that they can reconsider your application.
The fees associated with using short codes begin immediately after we initiate your short code request with carriers. You're responsible for paying these charges, even if the short code hasn't been completely provisioned yet. In order to prevent our systems from being used to send unsolicited or malicious content, we must consider each request carefully. We might not be able to grant your request if your use case doesn't align with our policies.
Step 2: Update your SMS settings in the AWS End User Messaging SMS console
After we notify you that your short code has been provisioned, complete the following steps.
Note
You can't complete this step until the short code request has been approved and the short code has been added to your AWS account.
Open the AWS End User Messaging SMS console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/sms-voice/
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In the navigation pane, under Configurations, choose Phone number.
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On the Phone number page, choose the short code.
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On the Keywords tab, verify that the responses for the HELP and STOP keywords match the values that you specified in your request.
