What is 10DLC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
By definition, 10DLC itself stands for \u201c10 digit long code.\u201d But in this context, it refers to a mandatory ecosystem to prohibit spam and unverified text messaging established by the major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile and guidance from the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA). This ecosystem comes in response to businesses moving away from standard short codes<\/a> in favor of sending texts via cheaper and more efficient 10 digit long code phone numbers (basically your regular North American phone number structure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The major carriers now require that businesses pay to get vetted and verified through a third-party entity called The Campaign Registry (TCR), which reviews and determines if a business SMS campaign qualifies for unblocked business texting. (Some SMS platforms increased their prices and absorbed these fees into their monthly costs, other platforms pass these fees directly to the consumer. Either way, TCR requires various registration fees along with vetting businesses and their texting campaigns.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses must register sample text messages and verify their contact info, website, privacy policy,<\/a> terms and conditions, EIN, etc. before they can send those text messages through any web-based application. They must also prove that they are gaining explicit consent from customers and offering a clear path to opt in and out of text communications. (For instance, if a customer texts a keyword like \u201cSTART\u201d to opt in to receiving promotional texts, the customer must also receive a text that includes messaging like \u201cText STOP to unsubscribe.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n For your sake, we won\u2019t elaborate too much further on the complex and ever-evolving intricacies of 10DLC regulations. 10DLC has affected application-based telecom companies across the board, everyone from Zoom<\/a> and Twilio<\/a>, to NumberBarn<\/a> and RingCentral<\/a>, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each SMS platform has its own process for registering business messaging, but all web-based SMS platforms must comply with 10DLC regulations. The introduction of 10DLC didn\u2019t just impact major SMS platforms. Many lesser-known SMS providers have expressed concerns about how these regulations have significantly disrupted their entire business model and deterred many of their clients<\/a> who rely on their messaging services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any entity using something called A2P, or Application-to-Person text messaging faces MNO outbound message blocking unless registering with TCR as a verified business user. (So many acronyms. SIA – Sorry In Advance.) We heartily agree that this is challenging news for many A2P text users. To send business text messages using A2P, regardless of your platform or telecom provider, business registration is required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So after all this about spam messaging and registering business texts, \u201cwhy can\u2019t we still send our normal, human, personal outbound messages via NumberBarn like we always could?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019ve used NumberBarn messaging for <\/em>personal texting<\/em><\/strong> or business text messaging, 10DLC regulations don\u2019t currently discriminate between these two types of use cases, and only consider that they occur via an application (A2P texting). <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, the major carriers have considered personal messaging as allowable only if occurring directly between mobile-to-mobile scenarios (also called \u201cconsumer messaging<\/a>\u201d). Any messages sent from a web-based application (A2P) (which they consider \u201cnon-consumer messaging\u201d) must register as business texting. (Did you get all that? Yup, it\u2019s clear as mud.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Long story short, when it comes to A2P, 10DLC\u2019s regulations throw both personal use and business use under the same category if sent via an application. Which of course doesn\u2019t account for the average user<\/em><\/strong> who may simply want individual, personal-use texting from an alternate number in order to protect their long-time personal number. Are the powers that be changing these regulations any time soon? Unfortunately, not that we know of. But let\u2019s talk about the way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We understand that a majority of NumberBarn customers don\u2019t use NumberBarn to send out business-related mass messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Product Team is arduously working to receive a new messaging classification called Person-to-Person (P2P) in order for us to restore outbound text messaging capability for your NumberBarn phone numbers. We\u2019re making strides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Great news: We received initial approval for P2P messaging! Now we\u2019re working through the tedious requirements for implementation and integration in order to restore outbound text messaging via the NumberBarn platform. Heads up\u2026change is in the wind! Some things may differ from our prior functionality in order to comply with P2P requirements.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>But for the average, personal-use scenario, we\u2019re getting very close to restoring more outbound texting functionality. <\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n NumberBarn has deferred business customers to our sister company, String<\/a>, for registered business messaging. (No, this isn\u2019t a plug for String<\/em><\/strong>, but it’s the best way we can accommodate more robust SMS messaging for businesses, at the moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For businesses with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) that meet the 10DLC Campaign Registry requirements<\/a>, String offers robust SMS marketing features like auto-responses, templates, keyword replies, personalization fields, mass messaging, contact management, and more. It\u2019s an efficient and intuitive SMS marketing tool for businesses across industries and sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n String can accommodate multiple numbers under one campaign, making it also useful for businesses with larger teams sending campaigns from several phone numbers. (Note that String does not currently register sole proprietor use cases. While TCR does have a registration process for sole proprietors without an EIN, it’s complex and,\u200b\u200b so far, not supported by many carriers.) If you want to switch to String, we can help you with all the above. For general personal-use texting however, String may not be the best alternative<\/em><\/strong> since it’s built for business SMS marketing and requires 10DLC registration. Some other free messaging platforms to consider in the interim: good ol\u2019 WhatsApp and Signal if your recipients use the same platform (kind of like Facebook Messenger, etc.). TextNow (to our understanding, this app is ad supported for the free version) or Google Voice are other more traditional personal texting alternatives (although some users have reported 10DLC throttling with Google Voice<\/a> so just make sure you stay within their guidelines). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t need to send<\/em> texts, you can still use a NumberBarn phone number to receive incoming texts like some<\/a> 2FA verifications, personal messages and those SMS rewards points at your favorite froyo shop down the street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIntended\u201d to help \u201cblock spam,\u201d the jury isn\u2019t out yet on its results. Despite 10DLC\u2019s industry-wide implementation in the last couple of years, many of us still receive a wealth of annoying spam and smishing (SMS phishing) texts. We\u2019ve likely all received that incessant \u201cYou have an unpaid toll\u2026\u201d message, and certainly find it taxing (pun intended).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spammers continue to find vulnerabilities in systems and software to accomplish their objectives. Those objectives might include hacking your bank account or just annoying you into oblivion. (But how do we redirect such highly-motivated masterminds to use their ambitions and unique skill set for good? Oops, I digress. Back to 10DLC.)<\/p>\n\n\n\nIndustry Impact <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How It Affects You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Will we get texting back? <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What can I use for outbound texting in the meantime? <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you do consider using String for business text messaging, here\u2019s a Step-by-Step Guide to registering your brand and campaigns<\/a>. You can avoid unnecessary rejections and rapidly speed up approval times by following these instructions<\/a> precisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther platforms for basic personal texting<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf No More Spam, Why Still Spam?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Spam](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Spam-text-messages-1-1024x538.png\")
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