Messaging glossary

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10DLC

In the United States, standard 10-digit phone numbers used for A2P messaging, which carriers require to be registered.

A

A2P (application-to-person)

Messages sent automatically by software to a person, such as codes, alerts and reminders. Learn more →

AIT / SMS pumping

Artificially inflated traffic: attackers trigger large numbers of verification messages to numbers they profit from. Rate limits, number validation and monitoring reduce the risk. Learn more →

Alphanumeric sender ID

A sender name of letters and digits, up to 11 characters, shown instead of a phone number. Allowed and regulated differently by country, and usually cannot receive replies. Learn more →

API

Application programming interface: the way your software sends messages and reads results from a messaging platform. Learn more →

C

Carrier billing (MOP)

A payment method where a purchase is charged to the customer’s mobile phone bill or prepaid balance. Learn more →

Chatbot

Software that answers customer questions automatically in a messaging channel and can hand over to a person. Learn more →

CPaaS

Communications Platform as a Service: a cloud platform that gives applications messaging and voice through APIs. Learn more →

D

Delivery receipt (DLR)

A status report from the network about whether a message was delivered. Detail and availability vary by country and operator.

Direct connection

A connection between a messaging provider and a mobile operator with no other provider in between: the shortest route a message can take. Learn more →

F

Failover

Automatically switching to an alternative route or region when a network has problems, so messages are still delivered. Learn more →

G

GDPR

The EU General Data Protection Regulation, which governs how personal data, including phone numbers, may be processed. Learn more →

H

HLR lookup

A query that checks whether a phone number is active and, where available, which network it belongs to. Learn more →

I

Intelligent routing

Choosing the best available route for each message, and moving traffic to another route if the first one has problems. Learn more →

IVR

Interactive voice response: automated phone menus that react to keypad or spoken input. Learn more →

K

Knowledge base

A central collection of answers that powers chatbots, agents and self-service. Learn more →

L

LOA (Letter of Authorization)

A signed document in which the owner of a sender name authorises another party, such as ZafeConnect, to register and manage it on its behalf. Required for SenderID Protection. Learn more →

Long code (virtual number)

A normal-length phone number used to send and receive messages or calls. Learn more →

M

MMS

Multimedia Messaging Service: messages with images, audio, video or contact cards. Learn more →

MO / MT

Mobile originated: a message sent from a handset to a service. Mobile terminated: a message delivered to a handset.

N

Number masking

Connecting two parties through a temporary intermediate number so neither sees the other’s real number. Learn more →

O

Omnichannel

Reaching customers across several channels, such as SMS, RCS, email and chat apps, with one integration and shared reporting. Learn more →

Opt-in

A customer’s clear agreement to receive messages from you. Marketing messages generally require it. Learn more →

Opt-out

The customer’s ability to stop receiving messages, for example by replying STOP. It should be easy and honoured promptly. Learn more →

OTP (one-time passcode)

A single-use code sent to a user to verify identity or a phone number. Learn more →

P

P2P (person-to-person)

Messages sent from one person to another, such as texting a friend. Learn more →

Partner direct

A direct operator connection that a partner runs and that a provider uses to extend its reach to more countries. Learn more →

Push notification

A short message that an app sends to a user’s device, shown on the lock screen or in the notification area. Learn more →

R

RCS

Rich Communication Services: a modern messaging standard with branded, interactive messages in the phone’s default messaging app. Learn more →

S

SenderID

The name or number shown as the sender of a message. Learn more →

SenderID Protection

A service that registers your sender name so others are kept from using it, where operators or registries support protection. At ZafeConnect it requires an LOA and has a separate monthly fee. Learn more →

SenderID registration

Getting a sender name approved for use in a country. Some countries require it before you can send with the name. Learn more →

Short code

A short phone number, often 5–6 digits, used for high-volume messaging in some countries.

SMPP

Short Message Peer-to-Peer: a protocol that messaging systems use to exchange SMS with providers and operators.

SMS

Short Message Service: text messages. A segment holds up to 160 characters in the standard GSM alphabet, or 70 with Unicode characters; longer messages are split into segments. Learn more →

SMS aggregator

A messaging provider that connects many businesses to many mobile operators through one integration. The route mix behind it, not the label, decides delivery quality. Learn more →

SMS API

A way for software to send text messages and read their delivery status through HTTP requests. ZafeConnect offers a REST API with signed delivery webhooks. Learn more →

SMS gateway

The connection or software through which a business sends messages into a provider’s network and on to the mobile operators. Often offered as an API. Learn more →

SMS segment

One unit of an SMS. Longer texts are split into several segments, which can affect cost.

SMS spoofing

Sending messages that appear to come from a trusted sender name, often as part of phishing (smishing). Learn more →

T

Template message

A pre-approved message format, required by some channels such as WhatsApp for business-initiated messages. Learn more →

Throughput

How many messages per second a route or platform can send.

Toll-free number

A phone number that is free for the caller, also usable for messaging in some countries. Learn more →

Transactional message

A message that confirms or informs about something the customer did or needs to know, such as a passcode, a receipt or a delivery update. Learn more →

Two-way messaging

Messaging in which customers can reply, so notifications become conversations. Learn more →

U

Upstream provider

A company that supplies a messaging provider with connections to mobile operators. Using several avoids depending on one. Learn more →

V

Voice API

An interface that lets software place phone calls, play messages and build voice flows. Learn more →