Long numbers allows a wide range of industries to generate large amounts of mobile-originated SMS from the subscribers, such as wireless application service providers, mobile virtual network operators, mobile virtual network enablers, SMS aggregators, e-sellers, advertising agencies, media channels and mobile infrastructure providers.
Limited to national borders, short codes have to be activated in each country where the campaign will take place, which might be expensive and time-consuming.
To have access to a short code, service providers must enter a bilateral agreement with the mobile network operator that actually owns the number.
Alternatively, service providers can rent short codes from aggregators, creating another middleman in the value-chain.
Premium messaging services are not possible on long numbers; those require short codes and operator agreements.