What is SMS Sender ID?

What is an SMS Sender ID?

When you receive a text message, the first thing you see is who sent it. For personal messages, this is usually a phone number or contact name. For business messages, this identifier is called a Sender ID.

An SMS Sender ID is the name or number that appears in the "from" field when a recipient receives your business text message. It's how your customers identify that a message is from your company rather than spam or an unknown sender.

Types of Sender IDs

There are three main types of SMS Sender IDs, each suited for different use cases:

Why Registration Matters

Many countries now require businesses to register their Sender IDs before sending SMS messages. This serves important purposes:

Benefits for Your Business

• Better Deliverability: Registered IDs are 30-50% less likely to be blocked by carriers
• Brand Protection: Prevents competitors or scammers from impersonating you
• Legal Compliance: Avoid fines and messaging bans
• Higher Trust: Recipients are more likely to engage with verified senders

Benefits for Recipients

• Security: Reduces SMS phishing (smishing) attacks
• Trust: Clear identification of who is messaging them
• Control: Easier to opt-out from legitimate businesses

Country-Specific Rules

Sender ID regulations vary significantly by country. Here's an overview of major markets:

How to Choose Your Sender ID

Choose Alphanumeric If:

• Brand recognition is your top priority
• You're sending one-way notifications (no replies needed)
• Your target countries support alphanumeric IDs
• Best for: OTP codes, alerts, marketing in EU/APAC

Choose Long Codes (10DLC) If:

• You need two-way conversations
• You're targeting the US or Canada
• You want customers to be able to reply
• Best for: Customer support, appointments, US campaigns

Choose Short Codes If:

• You're sending 100,000+ messages per month
• Speed and throughput are critical
• You need a memorable number for marketing
• Best for: Flash sales, voting, large-scale campaigns

Best Practices

Naming Your Sender ID

• Use your brand name or a clear abbreviation (max 11 chars)
• Avoid generic names like "INFO" or "ALERT" — often blocked
• Be consistent — use the same ID across all campaigns
• No special characters — stick to letters, numbers, and spaces

Registration Tips

• Start early: Registration can take 1-4 weeks in some countries
• Prepare documents: Business license, ID, and use case description
• Work with your provider: SMS aggregators often handle registration
• Track expiration: Some registrations need annual renewal

Compliance Must-Haves

• Always include opt-out instructions in marketing messages
• Maintain consent records for all recipients
• Respect quiet hours (typically 9pm - 8am local time)
• Include your business name in message body as backup