10DLC is the telecommunications industry’s novel solution to the legislative and regulatory developments of the past few years. Short for 10-digit long code, 10DLC uses regular local landlines instead of short codes or toll-free numbers for application-to-person (A2P) messaging all across North America.
Long codes have long been used for purposes such as customer service and use cases are rapidly expanding to better suit other business needs as well. Of course, “10DLC” isn’t just any standard long code. That phrase comes laden with its own laundry list of laws and regulations that control the ways in which you can and should be using 10-digit long codes for A2P messaging.
Differences Between 10DLC, Short Codes, and Toll-Free Numbers
To gain a better understanding of what 10DLC is and what industry professionals mean when they use the phrase “10-digit long code,” let’s look at 10DLC in comparison to traditional short codes and toll-free numbers.
Short Codes
An example short code is 123456. There are two kinds of short codes: vanity and random. Vanity short codes are deliberate, chosen to represent a sequence of numbers that is important to the company. Random short codes are random.
A short code is an abbreviated number commonly between four and six digits in length. As of September 2021, short codes are the most common A2P solution globally. However, 10DLC is set to upset that in the coming years for a variety of reasons that we’ll cover in the next few sections.
Whereas short codes remain the ideal A2P solution for large-scale, enterprise-level communications, 10DLC has become North America’s most efficient A2P solution when communicating with clients on the local, in-branch level.
Toll-Free Numbers
An example toll-free number is +1 (800) 555-1234.
Toll-free numbers are often referred to as “eight hundred numbers” due to the fact that they all begin with an eight. Prior to the advent of 10DLC, text-enabled toll-free numbers were on the rise in popularity, particularly in customer service use cases.
Although both 10DLC and text-enabled toll-free numbers are capable of sending the same kinds of messages, the throughput and deliverability of 10DLC messages are significantly higher. That’s because 10DLC includes a form of pre-registration with mobile network operators (MNOs) known as The Campaign Registry (TCR), which we will cover more in depth later in this article.
5 Benefits of 10DLC
Communication service providers (CSPs) in North America are switching to 10DLC for a variety of reasons. Among the most common reasons are those that follow:
Improved Message Deliverability
Before an MNO will allow a business to use 10DLC to send A2P communications, said business will be required to register. This registration with MNOs enables them to vet and verify your business’s messages before you send them, significantly reducing the chance of messages being blocked or flagged as spam.
Ease of Regulatory Compliance
Between the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act of 2019 and the FCC’s subsequent regulation rollouts, quite a bit has changed in the field of telecommunications. Add to that the ever-changing requirements for Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) compliance and you have a veritable minefield of potential fines, blocked messages, and legal action.
10DLC enables you to ensure that your A2P communications remain in compliance with all of the above laws and regulations by pre-approving select campaigns based on use cases and other qualifications.
Greater Local Appeal
Neither short codes nor toll-free numbers enable the same level of local brand recognition as 10DLC numbers. Since 10DLC involves the use of local phone numbers, which are far more recognizable to individuals in said locale, A2P communications sent through these channels will appear more personal.
10DLC Numbers Support Both Text and Voice
Although toll-free numbers may be text-enabled in order to offer both text and voice compatibility, short codes remain text-compatible only. 10DLC numbers take this one step further, enabling greater flexibility for Customers to call or text the same number, which in turn makes it easier for Customers to engage with your business.
Lower Prices
Like short codes and toll-free numbers, 10DLC numbers are often offered via leasing agreements. The difference, however, is that short codes can cost upward of $1,000 per month, whereas 10DLC numbers typically run around $1 per month.
Note, of course, that this does not include individual carrier fees, registration fees, or other costs. Even so, adding together all of those additional prices can save you around 90% when compared to the cost of a single short code.
The Problem of Robocalls and Other Spam
Laws and Regulations
10DLC and the Campaign Registry
Registration
FAQs
See: 10DLC FAQs.