Short codes are designed[citation needed] to be easier to read and remember than telephone numbers.
In some countries, such as the United States, some classes of numbers are inter-operator (used by multiple providers or carriers).
[2] Messages sent to a short code can be billed at a higher rate than a standard SMS and may even subscribe a customer to a recurring monthly service that will be added to the customer's mobile-phone bill until the user texts, for example, the word "STOP" to terminate the service.
[citation needed] Short codes are often associated with automated services.
An automated program can handle the response and typically requires the sender to start the message with a command word or prefix.
[citation needed] In ads or in other printed material where a provider has to provide both a prefix and the short code number, the advertisement will typically follow this format:[citation needed] Short Codes are five digits in length and start with 5, also are known as short codes for value added service.
[citation needed] Communications Alliance Ltd and WMC Global are responsible for governing premium and standard rate short codes in Australia.
Common Short Codes beginning with a leading '4' are reserved for private use by wireless network operators.
Four-digit Common Short Codes are not permitted due to handset incompatibilities.
Short code-based messages vary between zero-rated (paid for by campaign), standard rate (user is responsible for standard carrier charges), and premium rate (varies, C$1-10).
There are many companies in the Indian market who rent keywords, on a monthly basis, whose characters, on a typical telephone keypad, represent short codes.
[13] In Italy, short codes have no fixed length, starting from three digits up to five.
All short codes that start with the digit "4", are designated by a local telecommunications law for "network services".
Widely known short codes are in the 48xxx range, commercial ringtones and mobile stuff download.
All short codes that start with the digit "1", are designated by a local telecommunications law for "network services".
Dialing short codes are generally 3 digits, and reserved for public services.
Short codes usage must abide by the rules set by PTA (Pakistan Telecom Authority).
Commercial codes are five digit long (1xxxx) and are reachable from both mobile and fixed networks.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is a regulatory agency providing an environment that ensures reliable, affordable and viable infrastructure and services in information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to all.
Shortcodes are often owned by holding companies[19] who then lease them out to service providers and advertisers to promote SMS services, charitable fundraising and marketing promotions such as news alerts, voting and quizzes.
Mobile operators sometimes use proprietary codes (either with a different leading digit, or shorter in length) for operator-specific functions.
Messages received from shortcodes may be free or may incur a premium charge.
For subscription services, the charges may recur on a daily, weekly, monthly or other basis.
The service provider must state the applicable charges alongside the number.
Calls and messages to mobile shortcodes do not count towards inclusive allowances or bundles.
[25][26] A number of key PSA staff had already been embedded within Ofcom for some time in preparation for this move.
[39][40] A user can opt-out from receiving any further messages from a short code service by texting "STOP", "END", "QUIT", "CANCEL", or "UNSUBSCRIBE" to the short code; after doing so, one final message confirming the opt-out is sent.