SMS/MMS Registration

SMS/MMS Registration

Why is SMS/MMS Registration Necessary?


With the growing issue of “spam texting” over the past several years, U.S. cellular carriers have implemented new standards to safeguard the integrity of business messaging. As of June 2023, any business that wishes to use their phone number(s) for SMS/MMS must be registered with the designated governing organization. This requirement enables carriers to verify reputable senders, helping ensure that recipients can trust the messages reaching their phones while reducing the prevalence of unwanted texts.


Who Do I Register With and How?


SMS/MMS registrations are handled directly by your phone or messaging service provider. If you use a third-party messaging service, please contact them for assistance with registration. If you are a Primevox customer or reseller, please complete the form linked below to start your SMS/MMS registration: Primevox SMS/MMS Registration Form


Elements of the SMS/MMS Registration Application


The governing organization overseeing SMS/MMS registration requires the following key information to successfully approve an SMS Registration Application:

1. Business Identity
  1. Applicants must provide detailed identifying information, including the business name, address, Tax ID or EIN, and industry. This information is verified against IRS records to confirm the legitimacy of the business.
2. Proof of Consent
  1. Regulations mandate that message senders obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending any messages. Proof of this consent must be provided.
3. Proof of Privacy and Data Control
  1. Message senders are required to maintain and prominently display a clear, easy-to-understand Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. These documents must be available either on the business's website or in print.
4. Statement of Messaging Purpose and Example Content
  1. Applications must include a detailed explanation of the purpose of the messages, along with examples of typical message content and their frequency.


Opt-in/Consent Requirements


The new U.S. messaging regulations mandate all message senders obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending any messages. This "opt-in" consent ensures that recipients have agreed to receive messages from your business.

Proper opt-in procedures should:
  1. Be clear and concise.
  2. Be completely optional to consumer (e.g.,  phone number field or consent checkbox must not be required in order to submit the form).
  3. Directly mention your company name.
  4. Explicitly state the type and frequency of messages.
  5. Mention any additional fees associated with messages from your company (e.g., “messaging and data rates may apply”).
  6. Include an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”) or request assistance (e.g., “Reply HELP for assistance”).
  7. Include instructions for accessing your Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Proper opt-in procedures should NOT:
  1. Be obscured within the terms & conditions and/or other agreement(s).
  2. Be bundled with consent to receive phone calls or emails.
  3. Be shared with third parties.
  4. Be implied.
  5. Be required in order to interact with your business.

These opt-in standards help prevent unsolicited messages and protect recipient privacy. If you do not already have an opt-in form, you may use the provided templates for both a print form or website form as a reference.


Privacy Policy Requirements


The new U.S. messaging regulations mandate that message senders maintain and conspicuously display a clear, easy-to-understand Privacy Policy that describes how the message sender may collect, use, and share information from consumers.

Proper Privacy Policies should:
  1. Be clear and concise.
  2. Directly mention your company name.
  3. Explicitly state that mobile number information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes.
Proper Privacy Policies should NOT:
  1. Have SMS consent obscured within the terms & conditions and/or other agreement(s).
  2. Have SMS consent bundled with consent to receive phone calls or emails.
  3. Share mobile number information with third parties of affiliates.

If you do not already have a Privacy Policy, you may use this template as a reference.


Terms of Service Requirements


The new U.S. messaging regulations mandate that message senders maintain and conspicuously display a clear, easy-to-understand Terms of Service that discloses the types of messages consumers can expect to receive, texting cadence, message and data rate notices, privacy policy links, and opt-out instructions.

Proper Terms of Service should:
  1. Be clear and concise.
  2. Directly mention your company name.
  3. Explicitly state the type of messages consumers should expect to receive and the estimated frequency of messages.
  4. Mention any additional fees associated with messages from your company (e.g., “messaging and data rates may apply”).
  5. Mention an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”) or request assistance (e.g., “Reply HELP for assistance”).
  6. Include instructions for accessing your Privacy Policy.

Proper Terms of Service should NOT:
  1. Be obscured within other agreement(s).
  2. Have SMS consent bundled with consent to receive phone calls or emails.
  3. Share mobile number information with third parties of affiliates.
​
If you do not already have an SMS/MMS disclosure section within your Terms of Service, you may use this template as a reference.


Application Timeline, Temporary Registrations, and Rejections Limit

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Application Timeline

Given the comprehensive and manual review process conducted by the governing organization, please allow fifteen (15) to twenty (20) business days for your SMS/MMS registration application to be reviewed and approved after submission.

Alert
Missing or incorrect information may cause delays in the review process.

Temporary Registrations

Temporary SMS/MMS registrations offer short-term messaging access while your official SMS/MMS registration is under review. These registrations are available upon request and can only be issued after you have submitted a completed SMS/MMS registration application. Temporary SMS/MMS registrations will automatically expire thirty (30) days after issuance or five (5) days following a rejection if the issue is not resolved.
 

Rejection Limit

SMS/MMS registration applications may be rejected up to four (4) times before being deemed permanently ineligible for resubmission. At that point, a new application must be submitted with all issues fully resolved.

Warning
Please note that repeatedly rejected applications may result in a fine.

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