Toll free numbers are instant and don’t have the same A2P 10DLC requirements. There’s an optional free registration to increase throughout in toll free numbers.
I hear you. It has complicated things across the board. And the additional non-compliance fines are getting outrageous. It’s getting to the point where offering SMS just isn’t worth the risk in some cases - for example, Zapier blocked SMS messaging to T-Mobile altogether (unless you are using your own self registered Twilio or SMS provider).
Increasing the number of allowed SMS phone numbers only further increases and amplifies that risk which is why I’m more likely to lean toward a “Bring your own SMS” type of integration.
But that just brings us back to a chicken and egg thing where the regulations and compliance in the SMS space are making those type of offerings even more challenging for players who want to be in the SMS space.
textbelt.com works for now, thanks! I wonder how long it will work given the regulatory issues?
This is for personal use (just family members and a few care givers).
Perhaps if there was a careful process it could be offered as a service?
a) Limiting to paid accounts to avoid some of the gaming (no free trials for multiple numbers).
b) Limiting number of phone numbers entered (e.g. less than 10 unique numbers over time with an account) and keep volume of messages (<100/day).
c) Requiring the numbers entered to opt in.
But I have not read the regulations and am not from the industry.