Benefits of 10-Digit Long Codes
Improved Customer Engagement
10DLC helps businesses offer an improved customer experience through more personalized two-way messaging, while giving customers the ability to initiate a conversation with your business.
Greater Message Flexibility
With 10DLC, it’s possible to send longer messages, allowing businesses to include more information than they could with short codes. This enables more effective communication with fewer limitations.
Lower Costs
Short codes typically cost thousands of dollars a month, while 10-digit numbers are affordable for any-sized business. 10DLCs provide a cost-efficient way to reach customers while delivering a higher return on investment.
Better Trust and Recognition
With two-way messaging, businesses can create a positive relationship with their customers. And messaging with a localized 10-digit number within a customer’s area code offers a greater sense of familiarity and trust.
Increased Deliverability
10DLC creates A2P SMS routes dedicated solely to business-to-consumer traffic, making for more trusted messaging, less spam, and more reliable and consistent deliverability.
Faster Throughput
Faster messaging keeps your team in sync and your customers happy. From time-sensitive updates to urgent requests, 10DLC ensures that your messages are delivered quickly and efficiently, every time.
Industry Compliant
All 10DLCs must be registered to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. By registering your numbers, 10DLCs also have a reduced risk of getting your messages blocked or flagged as spam.
Scalability and Customization
With 10DLC, businesses can send high volumes of text messages while maintaining compliance with carrier regulations, helping streamline their texting efforts while reaching more customers.
Complete Our Registration Form
You’ll provide us with information about your company, industry, use case, samples of the messages you will be sending, and how you gather opt-in consent.
Submit Your 10DLC Registration
Once the form is completed, we’ll submit your 10DLC registration on your behalf and reach out if more information is needed. We’ll update you on its status and let you know when it gets approved.
Get a New 10DLC or Text-Enable Your Existing Number
Once your 10DLC registration is approved, we’ll get you set up with new virtual numbers or text-enable your existing 10-digit numbers. New virtual numbers will be created with your desired area code.
Once your numbers are set up, your team can begin texting.
Once your numbers are set up, your team can begin texting.
Compare Number Types
10-Digit Long Code | Toll-Free | Short Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
Area Code | Local | 8XX | None |
Digits | 10 | 10 | 5 or 6 |
Throughput | 12 - 225 MPS* | 3 - 150 MPS | 100 - 300 MPS |
Daily Campaign Volume Limits | Yes | No | No |
Cost | $ | $$ | $$ |
Use Case | Local recruiting, marketing, sales, and workforce management | National recruiting, marketing, sales, and workforce management | High volume local or national marketing and recruiting |
Benefits | More affordable, faster provisioning, local area code | Consumer trust, portability, 8XX area code | Fastest throughput, highest deliverability, easy to promote |
Provisioning Timeline | A few days to a few weeks | One to three weeks | One to three weeks |
10DLC throughput is determined by an organization’s TCR trust score and shared across all its long codes.
Compliance and Best Practices for 10DLC Messaging
To fully benefit from 10-digit code messaging, businesses must follow essential compliance requirements that protect consumers and ensure reliable delivery. Whether launching a new 10DLC campaign or scaling your SMS marketing efforts, aligning with 10DLC regulations is key to successful business texting.
Industry-Specific Use Cases for 10DLC Messaging
Businesses across industries are turning to 10DLC numbers for secure, localized, and efficient communication. Here’s how different sectors are using long code text messaging to connect with their audiences:
Retail
Retailers use 10-digit codes to send personalized promotions, local store updates, and order confirmations. The familiarity of a local area code increases open rates and drives higher engagement in SMS marketing campaigns.
Healthcare
Healthcare providers rely on compliant texting through 10DLC messaging to send appointment reminders, patient follow-ups, and health alerts. A properly registered 10DLC number helps maintain HIPAA-friendly communication without relying on a short code.
Hospitality
Hotels and travel companies use 10DLC messaging for booking confirmations, check-in instructions, and guest experience surveys. Local texting helps deliver timely, relevant messages directly to a traveler’s phone.
Higher Education
Universities and schools use SMS updates to notify students and parents about campus events, emergency alerts, and registration deadlines. A 10DLC number with a known local area code makes educational messaging more effective.
Real Estate & Financial Services
Banks, lenders, and insurance companies use long code messaging to send real-time transaction alerts, fraud warnings, and account updates. Unlike a shared short code, a dedicated 10-digit code builds trust and improves message recognition.
Staffing & Recruiting
Staffing agencies and recruiters benefit greatly from business texting. From outreach and interview scheduling to onboarding and shift coordination, a registered 10DLC number enables personalized, high-volume messaging while staying within compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 10DLC?
A2P 10DLC refers to a formal system in the United States and Canada that allows businesses to send Application-to-Person (A2P) type messaging via standard 10-digit long code (10DLC) phone numbers. US mobile carriers consider all business-to-consumer text messaging to be A2P.
What’s the purpose of 10DLC?
The purpose of this technology is to provide a more reliable and secure method of communication between businesses and their audience. With 10DLC, businesses can send higher volumes of messages with improved delivery rates and faster throughput. In addition, 10DLC limits “bad actors” to cut down on spam messaging, making SMS a more reliable and trusted form of communication.
Who is impacted by 10DLC?
Companies that use A2P SMS/MMS communication to connect with their customers.
Why do I need to register my 10DLC campaign?
All U.S. mobile carriers now require businesses to register their 10DLC campaigns to ensure responsible use of text messaging services and compliance with relevant laws. Registration provides carriers with information about A2P message senders and the types of messages sent to their subscribers. Regardless of the texting platform used, businesses must complete registration to text consumers.
How long does it take for a 10DLC registration to be approved?
Campaigns for standard use cases are typically approved in a few days. Specialty use cases may require additional vetting, which can take up to a few weeks, depending on how quickly carriers can review.
Can I use my existing number?
Yes, you can use your existing landline or VoIP number as 10DLC.
Can I send MMS messages with 10DLC?
The answer is yes! With TextUs and our 10DLC service, you can send both SMS and MMS messages to your customers or clients. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) allows you to send images, videos, and other multimedia content to your contacts, making it an ideal way to share more information or showcase your products visually.
How is 10DLC different than short codes?
Both short codes and 10DLCs are used to send and receive messages and allow businesses to communicate with end-users. Short codes are 5- or 6-digit numbers often used for specific use cases that require immediate message delivery, such as 2FA, or alerts and notifications. 10DLCs are 10-digit local phone numbers businesses use for SMS and MMS messaging to engage customers. 10DLCs are better suited for two-way messaging, and unlike short codes, have support for voice calls and a higher return on investment.
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