What is A2P 10DLC, and does my business need it?
If your software texts customers from a regular 10-digit number in the US, carriers expect you to register. Here is what that means and how to get through it.
A2P 10DLC is the US system for businesses sending texts from standard 10-digit phone numbers. If you text customers from software, you need a registered brand and campaign with The Campaign Registry, or carriers will filter or block your messages.
What A2P 10DLC means
A2P stands for application-to-person: messages sent by software rather than typed by a person on a phone. 10DLC means a 10-digit long code, the same kind of local number people already recognize.
US carriers built 10DLC registration so they can tell legitimate business traffic apart from spam. Registered traffic gets better delivery and higher throughput. Unregistered traffic gets filtered.
Who needs to register
Any business sending texts from a local number through an app, a CRM or an API. That includes appointment reminders, delivery updates, two-way support and marketing. It does not matter how small your volume is.
Toll-free numbers follow a separate process called toll-free verification. Short codes have their own application. Most businesses start with 10DLC because it's the fastest and cheapest.
The two things you register
- Your brand. Your legal business name, EIN, address and contact details, checked against public records.
- Your campaign. What you'll send, sample messages, and how people opt in and opt out.
Most rejections come from the campaign, not the brand: missing opt-in language, no STOP or HELP instructions, or samples that don't match the stated use case.
How long it takes
With Mittis, the automatic A2P process drafts your brand and campaign, checks them against carrier rules and files them for you. We aim to have you approved within 48 business hours. Carriers and the registry make the final decision, and a small share of registrations get pulled for manual review, which can take longer.
What it costs
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Brand identity check | Free |
| Campaign registration | $22.50 one-time |
| External brand vetting (optional) | $60 one-time |
External vetting is only worth it if you need higher throughput than a standard brand gets.
Questions
Can I text customers while my campaign is pending?
Not from a 10DLC number. Carriers block unregistered application traffic. You can send test messages to your own verified phone while you wait.
Does registration transfer if I switch providers?
Your brand does. Mittis registers directly with The Campaign Registry as a CSP, so the brand stays tied to your business rather than our account.
Do I need a separate campaign for marketing and reminders?
Often, yes. Each campaign has one declared use case. Mixed-use campaigns exist but get more scrutiny.