Register a number for VirtualText SMS

VirtualText SMS registration is required before a business sends SMS or MMS. An inbound-only use does not need this process. The form covers carrier rules that ask a business to get permission before texting someone the first time. Private companies and sole proprietors with an EIN use these steps. A sole proprietor without a website or an EIN still completes the other requirements. A one-time fee depends on the plan. VirtualText specialists walk through the form with you.

In order to protect consumers from spam, the Business SMS industry and CTIA guidelines now requires registration for all businesses, regardless of intent or use-case. Here, we’ll prepare you for all the necessary items to complete the registration by the upstream vetting carriers.

When SMS registration is required

The industry has taken a turn to ensure that the consumer base is well informed, and grant permission to receive texts before business SMS using entities text them for the first time. This process covers all of those requirements.

There is a one-time fee to register, and will depend on your plan. Reach out to us here if you want to confirm your pricing!

What You’ll Need

Company and Primary Contact Information

Company Information
Primary Contact Phone number & Email Address - This is the person in charge of submitting this registration with us generally.
Business Contact Phone Number & Email Address

Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions

You must have a consumer facing privacy policy or T&C page, with its’ own individual URL.
A link to this page must appear on your website’s home page. This is typically done at the footer, with a link that says “Privacy Policy” or “Terms and Conditions”
The contents of the privacy policy is up to you and your business, but to pass carrier vetting, it must mention that you do not sell mobile opt-in data to third party entities for marketing or promotional purposes. Please note that VirtualPBX is not liable for any modification of your privacy policy.

Opt-In Method and Use-Case

This is how you plan to use texting with your client/customer base. Examples may be to update delivery notifications, to schedule appointments, to give support on products, for customer questions and answers, etc.

A list of topics that will generally be used for texting from your account.
Opt-in Method - This is the big one. How will you get your customers to opt in to texting before you text them? There are three typical methods; Keyword, Website, and Paper Form

Keyword

Pick the keyword itself. Must be at least 3 characters, all one word. Generic keywords are SUBSCRIBE or START.
There must be a documented way for customers to see your keyword option, with some necessary verbiage. A good place to make this visible could be the Contact page (or similar) on your website, on a form they fill out, on business cards or flyers, posted on a billboard, etc. Replace the Bold/Caps items with your own information.

Website

Pick or create a form on your website which includes a phone number field, accompanied by a check box to opt in. Here are the rules for that checkbox and verbiage (Verbiage is further below here)

Paper Form

Your paper form likely already has a place where consumers enter their phone number. Here are the rules for Paper Form compliance: