General FAQ

Understanding SMS Length and Its Charges

English SMS Length Defined: When crafting an English SMS, you have a limit of 765 characters at your disposal. But here's the breakdown to be aware of: Each standard SMS is capped at 160 characters. Segmentation of Longer Messages: If your message exceeds 160 characters, it gets segmented into parts, each containing up to 153 characters. So, if you're doing the math: 1 part = 1 SMS (Up to 160 characters) 2 parts = 2 SMS (Up to 313 characters) 3 parts = 3 SMS (Up to 459 characters) ... 5 parts = 5 SMS (Up to 765 characters: 5 parts * 153 characters/part). User Experience vs. Billing: Most modern mobile devices will seamlessly stitch these parts together, presenting the recipient with one continuous, elongated message for easy reading. However, on the billing side, each of those segments is considered and charged as a separate SMS by the network providers. Takeaway: While longer messages offer the advantage of conveying more information, it's essential to be aware of the character thresholds to manage costs effectively.  

Understanding Unicode SMS Length

Defining Unicode SMS Length: For messages encoded in Unicode, the character limit for a single SMS is set at 70 characters. Unicode is used to represent a wider range of characters, including those from languages like Arabic, Chinese, and other non-Latin scripts, which often require more bytes for representation. Segmentation for Extended Messages: When a Unicode SMS exceeds this 70-character cap, the message undergoes segmentation. For extended messages that utilize Unicode encoding, each segment will be limited to 67 characters. This is because, out of the 70 characters, 3 are reserved for segmentation information. This information ensures the recipient's device can seamlessly concatenate the segments, presenting one continuous message. Key Point: It's essential to be mindful of the character limit when sending Unicode messages. Even though they allow for a rich set of characters, the segmented nature could mean higher costs due to multiple SMS charges for a single extended message.  

Understanding SMS Sender IDs

What is an SMS Sender ID? An SMS Sender ID is essentially the identifier of the sender of the SMS. For instance, when you send a text from your mobile phone, the recipient sees your phone number as the sender. However, with the EasySendSMS API, you can customize this sender ID to be a numeric value or an alphanumeric string, such as your company name. Types of Sender IDs: Numeric: This is simply a phone number. Recipients can reply to these messages. Alphanumeric: This can include both letters and numbers, such as a company name, but recipients cannot reply to these messages. Key Differences: Numeric Sender IDs are purely digits. They allow the recipient to respond directly to the message. Alphanumeric Sender IDs can include a mix of letters and numbers, making it ideal for brand recognition, but these messages are non-replyable. Advantages of Alphanumeric Sender IDs: Using an alphanumeric sender ID lets you brand your messages. For example, your company name can appear as the sender, making it instantly recognizable to the recipient. Limitations: Numeric IDs can be up to 16 digits long, including the + sign. Alphanumeric IDs are limited to 11 characters and can only include A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and spaces. Special characters (e.g., &, *, $, @) are generally not allowed by networks. Restrictions: Not all sender IDs are permissible. Networks often have filters to block or replace certain sender IDs, especially those containing: Network names (e.g., Vodafone, Orange) Sensitive words or symbols (e.g., sex, $, Euro) Terms like Testing, Tester Some networks or countries require pre-registration of sender IDs to ensure they comply with local regulations. EasySendSMS support can assist in verifying and registering your chosen sender ID. How to Set the Sender ID: When sending an SMS via the EasySendSMS API, you can specify the sender ID using the from parameter. For any queries or to ensure your sender ID meets all requirements, please reach out to our support team for assistance.

What are the features and limitations when sending messages to various countries

What Are the Features and Limitations When Sending Messages to Various Countries? When sending SMS messages internationally through EasySendSMS, it's essential to understand the features available to you, as well as any potential limitations. This knowledge will help you optimize your messaging strategy and ensure your messages are delivered effectively, regardless of the destination. Key Features of International Messaging Global Reach: EasySendSMS offers extensive global coverage, allowing you to send messages to virtually any country around the world. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses that operate internationally and need to communicate with customers, clients, or employees across multiple regions. Sender ID Customization: In many countries, EasySendSMS allows you to customize your sender ID, making it possible to brand your messages with your business name or a relevant identifier. This feature enhances the professional appearance of your messages and increases the likelihood of them being recognized and trusted by recipients. Multi-Language Support: EasySendSMS supports the use of different character sets, including non-Latin scripts like Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic. This allows you to send messages in the native language of your recipients, improving communication and engagement. Time-Zone Based Scheduling: To ensure your messages are delivered at the most appropriate time for recipients in different time zones, EasySendSMS offers time-zone-based scheduling. This feature allows you to set the delivery time of your messages based on the local time of the recipient's location. Limitations to Be Aware Of Carrier-Specific Restrictions: Each country has its own mobile carriers, and these carriers may impose specific restrictions on incoming messages. These can include limitations on message length, the types of content allowed, or the sender IDs that can be used. It’s important to be aware of these restrictions when sending messages to different countries. Regulatory Compliance: Different countries have different regulations governing SMS messaging, particularly regarding promotional or marketing content. For example, some countries require explicit consent from recipients before they can receive such messages, while others have strict rules about what can be included in an SMS. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in penalties or message blocking. Delivery Times: While EasySendSMS works to deliver messages as quickly as possible, delivery times can vary depending on the country and local carrier networks. Some regions may experience delays due to network congestion or other factors beyond EasySendSMS’s control. Cost Variations: The cost of sending an SMS message can vary significantly depending on the country. Factors like carrier charges, message length, and the use of special characters can all affect the final cost. EasySendSMS provides transparent pricing, so you can anticipate these variations, but it's important to be mindful of them when budgeting for international messaging. Best Practices for International Messaging Research Carrier Rules: Before sending messages to a new country, research the local carriers' rules and restrictions. This can help you tailor your messages to meet the requirements and avoid potential delivery issues. Test Messages: If you’re unsure about how a message will be received in a particular country, consider sending a test message first. This allows you to verify that the message is delivered correctly and makes any necessary adjustments. Monitor Costs: Keep track of the costs associated with sending messages to different countries, and adjust your messaging strategy as needed to stay within budget. EasySendSMS provides detailed reports to help you monitor your spending. Stay Compliant: Ensure that your messages comply with the regulations of the countries you’re sending to. This may involve obtaining consent from recipients, avoiding certain content, or adhering to local advertising standards. By understanding both the features and limitations of international messaging, you can make the most of EasySendSMS's global reach while avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re reaching out to customers in a neighboring country or on the other side of the world, a well-informed strategy will help you achieve your communication goals.

My SMS delivery receipt indicates success, but the message wasn't received – what's happening

My SMS  Delivery Receipt Indicates Success, But the Message Wasn't Received – What's Happening? If your SMS delivery receipt shows that a message was successfully delivered, but the recipient claims they didn’t receive it, it can be perplexing. There are several factors that could explain this discrepancy, and understanding them can help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Understanding Delivery Receipts What Is a Delivery Receipt? A delivery receipt is a confirmation from the recipient's mobile network that your SMS has been delivered to the recipient’s device. It’s important to note that a delivery receipt indicates the message has reached the carrier network, but not necessarily that it has been displayed on the recipient's phone. Types of Delivery Receipts: Basic Delivery Receipt: Confirms that the message has been delivered to the recipient's carrier. Handset Delivery Receipt: Confirms that the message has been delivered to and acknowledged by the recipient's handset. Why the Discrepancy? A successful delivery receipt indicates that the message was processed and handed over to the carrier, but several factors can still prevent it from appearing on the recipient's phone. Common Causes of Discrepancy Phone Storage Issues: If the recipient's phone has insufficient storage space, the message may not be saved or displayed, even though the carrier successfully delivered it. This is common with older devices or those with limited internal storage. Network Issues: Network congestion or temporary issues within the recipient's carrier network can delay or prevent the message from reaching the recipient's device. In some cases, the message may be delivered later or not at all, even if a delivery receipt was generated. Message Filtering: Some mobile carriers or devices have spam filters that automatically block messages deemed suspicious or unwanted. These filters can sometimes misclassify legitimate messages, preventing them from being displayed to the recipient. Recipient's Phone Settings: The recipient may have settings enabled that block certain types of messages, such as those from unknown senders or those containing links. This can result in the message being delivered but not shown to the user. SIM Card Issues: If the recipient's SIM card is not properly seated in their device or is experiencing technical issues, it may not receive messages correctly, even though the carrier has delivered them. How to Resolve the Issue Ask the Recipient to Check Their Phone: If a recipient reports not receiving your message, ask them to check their device for any storage issues or blocked messages. They should also check their spam or junk folders, as some devices automatically filter messages into these folders. Verify the Phone Number: Double-check the recipient’s phone number, including the country code and formatting, to ensure it was entered correctly. Resend the Message: If the issue persists, try resending the message. If the problem was due to a temporary network issue, the message may be successfully delivered on the second attempt. Contact Customer Support: If you continue to experience issues, contact EasySendSMS customer support for further assistance. Provide them with the delivery receipt and any other relevant details to help them investigate the issue. Use Handset Delivery Receipts: Where possible, opt for handset delivery receipts rather than basic delivery receipts. This provides a more accurate confirmation that the message has not only been delivered to the carrier but also to the recipient’s device. In conclusion, while a successful delivery receipt usually indicates that a message has been delivered, various factors can still prevent it from being received by the recipient. By understanding these factors and following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can address the issue and improve the reliability of your message delivery.