Getting started: Texting in Australia

Introduction

We’ve been in business since 2000 and we’ve seen SMS change and evolve from personal to business use, and with that, SMS has become a much more regulated space. SMS Regulatory bodies worldwide are working hard to maintain SMS as a trusted communications channel, one in which reputable brands are buying into and sending anything from promotional messages or confirmation notifications to One Time PINs. More and more businesses are using SMS to deliver short, important, and time-sensitive messages to their customers, clients, stakeholders, and staff.

While we know that the regulatory requirements or restrictions of SMS messaging may be quite frustrating and onerous, we believe it is a good thing; it means your messages will remain credible in the eyes of your customers. Not sold? Here are a few more reasons why restricting SMS traffic is good for your business.

What does this mean for you when sending messages to your Australian contacts?

Australia has requirements for SMS communications with Australian contacts - you can only send from pre-registered Alphanumeric Sender IDs. This is good news for your brand, it gives your customers confidence when receiving and responding to your messages.

The process of applying for your Sender ID is a quick and easy one! You’ll start the process in our Web App and when we have what we need from you, we’ll submit the request on your behalf. There is no charge for Sender ID registration in Australia, and you can expect a confirmation within 4 business days.

What else should you know?

For your messages to reach their destination successfully, you’ll need to make sure that the mobile number is formatted correctly. This means including the country code. We are an international gateway and send messages worldwide. If you forget the country code or add it incorrectly, you might end up sending your messages to an unsuspecting contact in Puerto Rico, for example, or tripling the cost of your message send. The cost involved when sending text messages to your contacts depends on the length of the message you send, and the country you’re sending to. For more information on our pricing, visit our pricing page.

If you are sending marketing messages, you’ll need to follow a few guidelines set out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (AMCA). These include:

• Messages can only be sent with the consent of the recipient
• Messages must include clear sender information
• Messages must contain an opt-out or unsubscribe function

If you’d like to know more about the best practices when sending messages, we’ve created this guide which outlines the five best practices that the messaging industry associations and regional regulations expect you to follow when sending SMS communications.